There has been a lot of information—and misinformation—circulating about the upcoming school levy. In this bonus episode, I sit down with Battle Ground Public Schools Superintendent Shelly Whitten for a straightforward conversation to clarify what the levy is, what it replaces, and what it would mean for students, schools, and the community.

Today’s episode highlights both student talent and school leadership across the district.

We begin with a brief student spotlight featuring Eva Cryblskey, a River HomeLink violinist recently named an Enspire Arts Ambassador, who shares a short performance and a few reflections on her experience.

The main conversation features Assistant Principal Salina Machida of Tukes Valley Primary and Dean of Students Jamal McKenzie of Battle Ground High School. Together, they discuss the wide-ranging responsibilities of assistant principals and deans, from student discipline and safety to social-emotional support and school culture. Salina reflects on her journey from classroom teacher to National Board–certified educator and Marine Corps veteran, while Jamal shares insights from his background in school safety, athletics, and student support, including being named Washington School Safety Organization’s Security Officer of the Year.

This episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the leadership roles that help schools run well and support students every day.

In this episode of BG CAST, we sit down with Superintendent Shelly Whitten and Assistant Superintendent Lynnell Tsugawa-Murray to get to know the people leading Battle Ground and the values shaping their vision for the district. Shelly shares her three guiding principles—keeping students at the center of every decision, valuing honesty and feedback, and holding herself and others to high expectations—along with her personal story as a Battle Ground native whose life was shaped by a local teacher. Lynnell reflects on her journey from classroom teacher to district leadership and the importance of thoughtful, responsible systems that support students and staff. We also spotlight the Pleasant Valley Middle School band, joined by director James deBra, celebrating their Sweepstakes Award win at the 2025 Junior Rose Parade and the collaboration across schools that makes student music programs thrive.

This episode features Yacolt PE teacher Daniela Alexakis, founder of the Yacolt Primary Running Club, where students logged an impressive 13,769 miles during the 2024–25 school year. Daniela shares how the club boosts activity, confidence, and connection among students—earning her recognition as a Learn Here Hero and an honoree of Identity Clark County. We also talk with Brandon Case from First Student and Karen Bisson, BGPS transportation supervisor, about what it takes to safely transport nearly 9,900 students across 273 square miles, including early-morning winter road checks, behavior-management training, and tools like the parent bus-tracking app.

Today on the show, we’re talking with two key figures in Battle Ground Public Schools history: former Superintendent Mark Ross and the district's next leader, Deputy Superintendent Shelly Whitten. Mark, who served as superintendent from 2017 to 2021, reflects on his tenure. Shelly, a Battle Ground High School graduate with a 30-year career spanning teaching, administration, and human resources, discusses her deep roots in the community and her vision for the future as she prepares to become Superintendent.

On this episode, we spotlight Battle Ground Public Schools alum Katie Bauer, who proves that success can start at any age. She shares her journey from working at Detroit Pizza at age 16—a job that provided her with valuable work-based learning credits—to becoming a part-owner of the restaurant, which recently opened a second location in Camas. Katie also talks about achieving personal goals like owning two homes and hiring other students, continuing the cycle of mentorship. Later, we hear from Laura Fiksdal and Russ Kallwick of Chartwells, the district's new nutrition services provider. They discuss how they serve thousands of students daily and use innovative programs—from letting students vote on menu items to holding a cooking competition for fourth-graders—to teach kids about nutrition and introduce them to new foods and cultures.

In today's episode, we get to have a great conversation about the significant role that nurses play in all the schools in our district. I think you're going to be surprised and impressed by everything a school nurse is responsible for in the modern public school environment. We also take a minute to hear about a project Zac French has been working on with the Battle Ground Parks Department.

In today's episode, Denny and I sit down with Travis Blankenship and Chelsea Ward from the district's Family and Community Resource Center. We talk about the many services that are offered to students who are homeless or in foster care in the district, as well as some of the why and how of what they do.

In this episode, Denny and I sit down with Matt Stanfill (principal) and Michael Syron (teacher) from Battle Ground Virtual Academy (BGVA) to talk about what the BGVA is, its history, and how it's been growing in recent years. We also shine the spotlight on a project that students in Andie Noye's fourth-grade class did to serve students in Martinez, Georgia in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

In this episode, Denny and Shelly dig into the details about the upcoming levy that Battle Ground citizens will be voting on. We talk about what it is and also try to address some of the concerns that voters may have. We also shine the spotlight on the "Story Walk" at Captian Strong.