Springdale Today Podcast

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How do you turn elementary school learning into an interactive STEM adventure? You partner with a children's museum, of course! In this episode, guests Lynn Ryan, Bethany Cebuhar and Sarah Wiley spill the details on Walker Elementary's collaboration with the Scott Family Amazeum. We chat about hands-on teacher cohorts, preparing for their big April site visit, and the nervous excitement of waiting for July's official designation results.

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Get ready for an electrifying episode featuring the ultimate education dynamic duo! Today, we’re visiting with veteran educator Kimberly Blackston from the Don Tyson School of Innovation and her daughter Teagan, who is bringing fresh energy to her very first year teaching at Jones PREP Academy. Tune in for an inspiring, high-energy conversation as this incredible mother-daughter team shares what it takes to pass the teaching torch, shape young minds and build a lasting family legacy right here in Springdale Schools! 

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College? Trade school? Immediate workforce? The path after high school isn't one-size-fits-all anymore. In this episode, we’re joined by Blake Baxendale, Cameron Jones, and Melissa Meyers from the Springdale Schools College Empowerment Team to reveal how they’re helping students ditch the guesswork and build real, actionable roadmaps for life after graduation. Tune in to discover how personalized career pathways are changing the game for students across the district! 

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Every student's journey is unique, and Arthur's is one you won't forget. Join us for an inspiring conversation with Dr. Myranda Victoria, a speech therapist with Hunt Elementary, and Springdale parent Dr. Casey Bradley. They open up about Arthur’s path through Springdale Schools, highlighting the triumphs, hard work and school-home partnership that unlocked his potential.

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Two Springdale students are making national education history! Don Tyson School of Innovation sophomores Ramey Jones and Danielle Robertson join us to share their experience helping draft the STUDENTS FIRST Act, the nation's very first student-led AI policy for K-12 schools. Hear how these local student leaders represented Arkansas alongside more than 130 peers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, bringing a fresh, youth-driven perspective to the future of technology in the classroom. 

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 We’re kicking off our very first episode of the Why We Teach series on Springdale Today with Bernice Young Elementary special education teacher Lindsay Rankin, a 2027 Arkansas Teacher of the Year semi-finalist! Tune in as Lindsay shares the heart behind her classroom, what drives her daily passion for students, and the moments that remind her why she chose education. 

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Stronger Together: How is a $749,406 grant transforming local education? Springdale Public Schools Deputy Superintendent Shannon Tisher, Grants Coordinator Dr. Shawna Lyons, and Walton Family Foundation Senior Program Officer Terra Wallin break down the vision behind the district’s Empowerment Team and explain how this targeted funding will directly elevate student achievement and classroom innovation. 

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A game-changer for Northwest Arkansas education is officially here! Join us for a conversation with Jones PREP Academy Administer Nichole Davis, School Psychologist Jenna Brown and EverHope School Project Director Jessica Florer. We explore the mission behind the newly opened academy and how its unique support systems are setting NWA families up for long-term success. 

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A new school year brings a bold new era of leadership to Springdale! We sit down with Dr. Michael Shepherd (Don Tyson School of Innovation), Aurelian Sennett (Lakeside Junior High), Heather Barron (T.G. Smith Elementary) and Alison Washkowiak (Walter Turnbow Elementary) to unpack their vision, big goals, and what it takes to shape the future of our schools. 

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Springdale Today host Mary Jordan sits down with an inspiring group of local seniors as they stand on the cusp of graduation, preparing to take their next big steps into the future. 

Joining the conversation are Sepesim Francis-Mongkeya from Springdale High School, Dara Cuenca from the Don Tyson School of Innovation, and Reagan Bell from Har-Ber High School. Together, they share their personal journeys through high school, the excitement and nervous energy of their final year, and the diverse array of opportunities waiting for them after they cross the stage. 

Tune in to hear these bright young voices discuss their ambitions, the lessons they've learned, and what it truly feels like to get ready for the real world.