TSD World Class Podcasts

Our Superintendent, Dr. Rich Machesky, answers some of the most asked questions that he receives about our hybrid learning model.

It’s easy to think about everything that has changed during the coronavirus pandemic, but what has remained the same? Here in the Troy School District, we follow four distinct pillars that guide us through maintaining a standard of world class. These four pillars each represent a specific value that we hold. The gold pillar is for prioritizing learning, the blue pillar is for empowering students, the green pillar is for investing in early childhood education, and the red pillar, our subject for this podcast, is attending to well-being. Guests for this episode include Sara Ventimiglio, a School Psychologist at Morse & Barnard Elementary School, and Jesse Allgeier, a Counselor at Troy High School.

How has today’s technology allowed us to achieve what would have been impossible in previous years? We explore this question and more with our guest Beth Soggs, the Troy School District's Director of Technology.

We have now seen the return of elementary and middle school students to our buildings. Soon, our high school students will follow suit as we begin phasing every level into our hybrid learning model. With this, new and unique challenges will be met all while maintaining our standard of world class. High school principals Lara Dixon (Athens), Remo Roncone (Troy High), Ryan Brinks (International Academy East), and Bill Turner (Troy College & Career High School), join together for a roundtable discussion about our return-to-learn plan.

High school athletes gather together through Zoom to discuss playing fall sports during the Covid-19 pandemic. Adam Burns hosts with guests Anthony Kapala (Athens Soccer), Margaret Cubitt (Athens Volleyball), Ryan Peluso (Troy High Football & Soccer), and Rishi Shetty (Troy High Tennis).

Our district has begun the process of returning students to in-seat learning with our elementary schools. Next up, we will start phasing students into our middle school buildings. What is to be expected as we move forward? Middle school principals Joe Duda (Larson), Christian Mueller (Smith), Tony Morse (Boulan Park), and Jonathan Cross (Baker), join together for a roundtable discussion about our return-to-learn plan.

Athens High School senior, Gabe Brown, joins Adam Burns on the Sidelines to discuss his love of Tennis, advice for others, and his plans for the future. This interview was recorded during the district finals, at which time Gabe was the No. 1 ranked HS Tennis Player in the state of Michigan.

Last year was the grand opening of our new Troy School District Preschool building. This year, in the middle of a pandemic, some might ask if preschool is still a viable option. So how does this new building and the people inside it prove that it is?

We learn more about our district's investment in pre-kindergarten students with guest Erin Keyser, our Early Childhood Director.

It has been one month since students started the school year in a virtual setting, and over 6 months since we last sent them home. Now, we are starting the process of bringing them back physically into the classroom. With this, teachers will be tasked with simultaneously instructing learners who remain virtual, and others sitting in-seat. Elementary principals Erin Detmer (Leonard), Melanie Morey (Barnard), Shari Pawlus (Hill), and David Recker (Hamilton), join together for a roundtable discussion about our return-to-learn plan.

Dr. Rich Machesky reflects on the past month of virtual learning and looks forward at our plans for a hybrid learning model.