Education Mindset

As a first-year high school band director in Watford City, Matthew Page faces unique challenges trying to educate his students from a distance. How do you teach the tuba and trumpet using the internet?

Welcome to Education Mindset—a podcast brought to you by North Dakota United. I’m your host, Tom Gerhardt.



Matthew Page and his band at Watford City were just three days away from their regional competition when the coronavirus shut down schools across the state.

Page says the spring concert was on the horizon and suddenly kids were stuck at home with their instruments at school.

The big question he faced—how to keep his students practicing once he figured out how to get the instruments back in their hands.







You’ve been listening to Education Mindset, a podcast brought to you by North Dakota United.

For more stories and information—visit ndunited.org.

The words kindergarten and distance learning don’t exactly go together, but teachers across the state are finding ways to connect with students and their parents.

Welcome to Education Mindset—a podcast brought to you by North Dakota United. I’m your host, Tom Gerhardt.

When schools closed indefinitely this spring it left teachers, parents and students with dozens of questions and no immediate answers.

Imagine working at the kindergarten level, where some students aren’t able to read directions much less log onto a Zoom meeting.

Watford City teacher Delanie Hill says she’s had to teach the parents—and many are surprised to learn there’s a lot more to kindergarten than meets the eye.



Next episode, we check in with Library Media Specialist Olivia Dwyer.

She went from working face to with over 500 K-3 students in her elementary school—to trying to do the same work through technology. Like everyone else in education, she’s doing everything she can to do what’s best for her kids.

How do school counselors work with students during distance learning—and be effective?

Welcome to Education Mindset—a podcast brought to you by North Dakota United.

I’m your host, Tom Gerhardt.

In this episode, high school counselor Rachael Meuchel with the McKenzie County Public School District in Watford City joins me to share her experience.

She talks about maintaining connections with students through virtual means—and how she’s encouraging students to be more independent.

In the next six episodes, we’ll take a look at how the McKenzie County Public School District continues to adjust and adapt to distance learning from multiple perspectives including a music teacher, EL teachers, a kindergarten teacher, a counselor and library media specialist. It’s a snapshot of education during this unprecedented time.

How English Learner instructors are getting through to their students despite language and cultural barriers during distance learning.

Welcome to Education Mindset—a podcast brought to you by North Dakota United. I’m your host, Tom Gerhardt.

The coronavirus forced an immediate transformation of our education system this spring.



For the English Learner department in Watford City—and elsewhere—that meant immediate change.

In this episode, EL Coordinator Mari Rasmussen and EL instructor Pamela Albright explain how they’re passionately stayed connected despite the challenges thrown their way.

High school science teacher Amy Polivka talks about the double whammy in Watford City—the jolt of the coronavirus and the crash of oil prices—and how they’ve both affected students, families and educators forced into distance learning in a matter of days.

Welcome to Education Mindset—a podcast brought to you by North Dakota United.

I’m your host, Tom Gerhardt.

In the next six episodes, we’ll take a look at how the McKenzie County Public School District continues to adjust and adapt to distance learning from multiple perspectives including a music teacher, EL teachers, a kindergarten teacher, a counselor and library media specialist. It’s a snapshot of education during this unprecedented time.

We begin with Amy Polivka, president of the Watford City Education Association and high school science teacher.

She takes us back to the weekend everything changed.