Public School Podcast

School funding can feel confusing, frustrating, and sometimes even controversial. In this episode, Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer sit down with Coy Sasse, Chief Financial and Operations Officer for Rapid City Area Schools, to break it all down in a way the community can understand.

From property taxes and enrollment changes to aging school buildings and bond discussions, Coy explains where the money comes from, where it goes, and why things are not always as simple as they seem. The conversation dives into common misconceptions, the challenges districts are facing right now, and why investing in education matters for everyone, not just families with kids in school.

This episode pulls back the curtain on the financial side of education and highlights how these decisions shape the future of Rapid City.

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In this episode of the Public School Podcast, Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer sit down with Kallie Gebhard, former Horace Mann Elementary Teacher of the Year and now assistant principal at Grandview Elementary. Kallie shares her journey from fifth grade classroom teacher to school leadership and reflects on the lessons that shaped her along the way.

From building trust with students to helping them take ownership of their learning, Kallie talks about the importance of relationships in education and why meeting students where they are matters. The conversation dives into the Leader in Me program, how empowering students to lead can transform school culture, and why community involvement is so important for schools.

Kallie also shares heartfelt stories about the moments that make a career in education meaningful, including the students who return years later just to say hello. It is an honest look at the heart behind public education and the educators who show up every day to support students, families, and their community.

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In this episode of the Public School Podcast, Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer welcome two leaders from Rapid City Area Schools’ counseling team, Elizabeth Russ and Brittany Henry-James. As the district’s secondary and elementary lead counselors, they offer an honest look at what school counseling really involves.

From helping students navigate grief, housing instability, and mental health struggles to celebrating everyday wins in the classroom, Elizabeth and Brittany explain how counselors support the whole child. They also talk about how the role of school counselors has changed over time, the importance of collaboration among educators, and why building trusting relationships with students can make all the difference.

This conversation highlights the compassion, teamwork, and steady presence counselors bring to schools every day as they help students face life’s toughest moments and keep moving forward.

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Freshly named Rapid City Area Schools Teacher of the Year, Katey Swank joins the Public School Podcast to share the heart behind her fifth grade classroom at Meadowbrook Elementary. From hydroponic towers and native plant gardens to buddy programs and Feedback Fridays, Katey is building more than lessons. She is building confidence, resilience, and respect.

In this conversation, Katey talks about teaching students how to disagree respectfully, support their opinions with real evidence, and learn from mistakes because that is when the brain grows. She shares how mentorship, veteran teacher support, and cross grade connections help educators stay in the profession and thrive beyond the first five years. With humor, honesty, and a few shout outs to her students and family, this episode is a celebration of public education and the power of teachers who lead with both high expectations and big hearts.

Whether it is tying kindergarten shoelaces, launching a debate unit called Bring Your Receipts, or starting the day with three deep breaths, Katey reminds us that strong classrooms are built on courage, care, and community.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this upbeat and thoughtful episode of The Public School Podcast, Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer sit down with Adam Dannenbring, freshman seminar teacher, personal finance instructor, and multi-sport coach at Rapid City Stevens High School.

Adam walks listeners through what freshman seminar really is and why it may be one of the most important classes a student ever takes. From organization and goal setting to job interviews, mental health, relationships, and real-world readiness, he explains how the course helps students navigate one of the biggest transitions of their lives.

The conversation also dives into the powerful overlap between classroom teaching and coaching. Adam shares how athletics build discipline, accountability, and confidence, and how public schools create opportunities for students to try new things, discover passions, and learn what does and doesn’t fit them. With humor, honesty, and a few classic dad jokes, Adam reminds us that education is about far more than grades. It’s about opportunity, growth, and preparing students for life beyond high school.

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Season two of The Public School Podcast opens with one of the most powerful conversations yet. Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer sit down with Anita Deranleau, Rapid City Area Schools’ McKinney-Vento Coordinator, whose work ensures students experiencing housing instability can still show up, belong, and succeed.

Anita pulls back the curtain on what houselessness really looks like for families in our community and why it often goes unseen. From 6:30 a.m. transportation calls to emergency food runs, clothing closets, and late-afternoon problem-solving, she shares what it takes to remove barriers so students can stay in school, stay connected, and keep hope alive.

With honesty, compassion, and deep personal insight shaped by her own experience growing up in poverty, Anita explains why stability matters, how trust is built, and why schools must serve the whole child. This episode is emotional, eye-opening, and a powerful reminder that public schools are often the last safety net for families in crisis.

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