Name a high-concept, action-adventure story with a middle-school teacher as the main character. Has there ever been one …? In this episode we’re tying education to current pop culture, specifically the new movie “Project Hail Mary.” It stars Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace, a middle school science teacher who has to save the entire world on a deep-space mission. Throughout the movie – and even more if you’ve read or listened to the Andy Weir novel it’s based on – Grace has to solve problem after problem with his knowledge of science. It truly puts teachers front and center as the intelligent heroes they are. 

In its first two weeks of release, the film made more than $300 million worldwide. The novel was a finalist for the top science fiction award, the Hugo, in 2022, and the audiobook version won the Audie award for best audiobook of 2022. 

In this episode, two Rocky Heights Middle School teachers, Erika Hamlin and Sarah Lochmiller, talk about teaching science at the middle school level and how good of a job “Project Hail Mary” does in portraying their reality, how accurately the science was presented, and what they thought about stretching real science into speculative fiction.

SPOILER WARNING: If you have not read the book or seen the movie, you might want to wait to listen to this episode. Plot points and details are mentioned throughout the conversation. 

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About DCSD

Excellence meets opportunity in Douglas County School District. We're not just the third-largest school district in Colorado; we're a community dedicated to helping every student discover their unique talents and reach their full potential.

With 92 schools spread across the 850 square miles of our nationally renowned county, we have options galore. Whether you're looking for a comprehensive neighborhood school, a charter school with specialized curriculum, or support for students with special needs, we've got you covered. 

Interested in learning more? Take a look at the webpage where we answer the question Why DCSD?

Great schools make great communities, primarily by equipping young people with the education they need to grow and succeed. They also serve as community resources and contribute to property values. That’s part of the symbiotic relationship thriving schools and communities have – and at the core of that relationship is community investment through taxes that fund school districts. That’s where the relationship gets complicated. State laws and annually adjusted funding formulas, plus extra elections for supplemental tax funds, can make it difficult to understand how and why school districts are financed the way they are. 

All that complexity is why Douglas County School District’s Chief Financial Officer Jana Schleusner is our guest for this episode. As an expert who regularly goes to the state capitol to advocate for school funding on behalf of DCSD, she understands this subject as well as anyone. 

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About DCSD

Excellence meets opportunity in Douglas County School District. We're not just the third-largest school district in Colorado; we're a community dedicated to helping every student discover their unique talents and reach their full potential.

With 92 schools spread across the 850 square miles of our nationally renowned county, we have options galore. Whether you're looking for a comprehensive neighborhood school, a charter school with specialized curriculum, or support for students with special needs, we've got you covered. 

Interested in learning more? Take a look at the webpage where we answer the question Why DCSD?

As this episode is released, registration is now open for a pair of important bike safety events coming up this summer. Sgt. Mark Mithuen, a School Resource Officer supervisor in the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, tells us all about the second annual, free Eye Five Transportation and Road Safety events. Even with twice the capacity as last year, space is limited, so parents are encouraged to register their kids early. 

Sgt. Mithuen also talks about a number of the Sheriff’s Office’s Youth Academy programs for elementary, middle and high school students this coming summer and gives us an overview of the unique training and disposition it takes to be an SRO – along with why he appreciates getting to be one!

Eye Five:

To teach school-age children and teens bicycle safety – for beginners all the way to advanced riders – the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, DCSD, and several other community partners are sponsoring the second annual, FREE Eye Five Transportation and Road Safety event. This year, it will take place on two dates and in two locations:

Bring your helmet, bike, e-bike, scooter, electric scooter, or whatever you use to get around and get ready to have some fun learning from your DCSO school resource officers. Food trucks, local bike shops, and informational tables will be set up with information about trail and road safety around the county. 

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About DCSD

Excellence meets opportunity in Douglas County School District. We're not just the third-largest school district in Colorado; we're a community dedicated to helping every student discover their unique talents and reach their full potential.

With 92 schools spread across the 850 square miles of our nationally renowned county, we have options galore. Whether you're looking for a comprehensive neighborhood school, a charter school with specialized curriculum, or support for students with special needs, we've got you covered. 

Interested in learning more? Take a look at the webpage where we answer the question Why DCSD?

An important way listeners can participate in the discourse is by participating in the Douglas County Nicotine/Vaping/Tobacco Survey through March 31, 2026.

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About Parent University

Parent University is a special edition of DCSD Notebook and will appear in this feed monthly. For several years, Parent University has provided training, information, and resources for parents and caregivers. By partnering with community organizations and other agencies to equip families with additional knowledge, skills and resources, Parent University supports and empowers parents and caregivers to become leaders and advocates for their children's learning. This year, Parent University has transitioned from a live Zoom meeting to a podcast format to allow parents to listen to the conversations at their convenience; provide time and accessibility for guests to delve deeper into conversation; and save staff time with streamlined production. 

Thank you to our Parent University podcast sponsor, HCA HealthONE Sky Ridge for their continued support and partnership.

Jolee Jones works in two of the most unique positions in education. She leads DCSD’s outdoor education facility near Larkspur, which gives Douglas County students countless opportunities to learn from and enjoy the wonders of nature in Colorado. And the lessons she has both taught and learned, plus her own development as a leader in organizational development led to an expansion of her role. She now also works with teams through the school district to foster improved engagement, resilience, stress management, and awareness of what makes teachers teach better and administrators lead better. 

Her mix of research-based practices and real-world application makes her a true – and valued – unicorn in the realm of educational leadership. 

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Daniel C. Oakes High School in Castle Rock provides a compelling alternative for students who find large, comprehensive high schools are not the right fit for their needs. Because Douglas County School District strives to provide something for every style of learner, D.C. Oakes is one way to ensure students don’t miss out on a quality education. And this episode of the DCSD Notebook is a milestone – it’s our first featuring current students. D.C. Oakes principal Brian Singleton helps us welcome a pair of students who have truly found a home and a family atmosphere at Oakes: Elianna Diaz and Connor Siebert.

Worth noting: In the cover photo for this episode, Connor, Elianna and Mr. Singleton are standing in front of a student-created flag with a Phoenix, the mascot for D.C. Oakes. 

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Daniel C. Oakes High School

About Daniel C. Oakes High School

> Our Vision:

> Our Mission:

At Daniel C. Oakes High School, we continue to meet the needs of over 120 students each quarter who are looking for an alternative path toward achieving a high school diploma. Founded during the 1986-87 school year, Daniel C. Oakes High School is a school dedicated to providing an instructional, community atmosphere with a focus on personalized instruction. We take pride knowing that we can rekindle a student's desire and passion to learn, and we are proud to serve the Douglas County School District with a comprehensive, alternative high school program.

Our instructional efforts are rooted in district and state standards, and driven by our Board of Education's Ends Statements. We have combined this solid foundation with a firm belief in educating the whole student via an experimental approach to the acquisition of knowledge, outdoor education opportunities, and an exposure to the arts. We have found that this combination maximizes each student's academic success and develops strong relationships among students and staff. It also provides our students the ability to think critically, apply academic skills to real life situations, and create conditions that bolster confidence and sense of self worth.

About DCSD

Excellence meets opportunity in Douglas County School District. We're not just the third-largest school district in Colorado; we're a community dedicated to helping every student discover their unique talents and reach their full potential.

With 92 schools spread across the 850 square miles of our nationally renowned county, we have options galore. Whether you're looking for a comprehensive neighborhood school, a charter school with specialized curriculum, or support for students with special needs, we've got you covered. 

Interested in learning more? Take a look at the webpage where we answer the question Why DCSD?

Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of injury and death among teens nationwide. While smartphones get much of the blame, the reality is that distractions can come from anywhere — friends in the car, music, emotions, and even overconfidence behind the wheel.

To help us understand what really happens on the road and in emergency rooms, we are joined by HCA Healthone Skyridge hospital’s Trauma Nurse Coordinator and Injury Prevention Specialist Kathy Myers, RN, who has seen firsthand the consequences of distracted driving. In this discussion, she shares ways families can reduce risk and better prepare not only drivers but also passengers to ensure everyone gets to their destination safely.

Guest this week

Kathy Myers, RN, trauma nurse coordinator and injury prevention specialist at HCA HealthONE Skyridge

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About Parent University

Parent University is a special edition of DCSD Notebook and will appear in this feed monthly. For several years, Parent University has provided training, information, and resources for parents and caregivers. By partnering with community organizations and other agencies to equip families with additional knowledge, skills and resources, Parent University supports and empowers parents and caregivers to become leaders and advocates for their children's learning. This year, Parent University has transitioned from a live Zoom meeting to a podcast format to allow parents to listen to the conversations at their convenience; provide time and accessibility for guests to delve deeper into conversation; and save staff time with streamlined production. 

Thank you to our Parent University podcast sponsor, HCA HealthONE Sky Ridge for their continued support and partnership.

The Sweeney Family Business is all about caring for and building up people. Over the last decade, it’s become even more focused on helping, specifically through education. What started with Kiera Sweeney becoming a Sierra Middle School teacher, soon became three members of the family, with her father, Sean, and then her sister, Delaney, also becoming teachers. In fact those two teach at the same school, Bear Canyon Elementary in Highlands Ranch. Soon another member of the family will be added by marriage. In this episode, we’re going to hear from the tight-knit, fun-loving and fully supportive Sweeney family about how much teaching means to them.

If you want to admire a family that can work together, laugh together, and generally embody the love for community that makes DCSD a top destination, listen to this episode – and get ready to smile.

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About DCSD

Excellence meets opportunity in Douglas County School District. We're not just the third-largest school district in Colorado; we're a community dedicated to helping every student discover their unique talents and reach their full potential.

With 92 schools spread across the 850 square miles of our nationally renowned county, we have options galore. Whether you're looking for a comprehensive neighborhood school, a charter school with specialized curriculum, or support for students with special needs, we've got you covered. 

Interested in learning more? Take a look at the webpage where we answer the question Why DCSD?

At ThunderRidge High School in Highlands Ranch, Brad Johnson is a mainstay as a history teacher and state-championship winning coach. His daughter, Annabeth Johnson, also teaches history and coaches at ThunderRidge. The father and daughter teachers are at opposite ends of their careers, but both are all about making a difference in students’ lives through education.

In this episode, Mr. Johnson and Ms. Johnson talk about their unique working relationship, how they inspire and mentor each other, and how much they appreciate the ThunderRidge community.  

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In this episode, host Amy Pfister welcomes special guest, Dr. Matt Hadeed, chair of pediatrics at HCA HealthONE Sky Ridge, which is the sponsor of Parent University. Dr. Hadeed is a leader in pediatric health and development, and he has worked with countless families to build routines that support children’s physical and emotional well-being.

Dr. Hadeed shares his expertise on what kids really need when it comes to sleep, nutrition and daily habits — and how parents can set up their children for success both in and out of the classroom. Whether parents are navigating picky eating, bedtime battles, or just want to make healthier choices as a family, this conversation is full of practical, science-backed guidance.

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