Who's Behind the Bulldog?

This week’s guest is Social Studies facilitator and JCEA building rep David Holt.  This semester, David co-teaches two sections of Integrated American Studies with Lindsey Hewett and Reinelle Abrazado.  He also teaches World Studies.

In this episode, David digs into his role as an AR and identifies some pivotal areas where we as a school are moving in the right direction as well as areas of growth.  He discusses how he and his co-teachers and co-planners of American Studies have found a process to embed everyone’s opinions in order to find true compromise and allow for authentic integration.

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode!

This week’s Bulldog is art teacher Ciara Pias.  This Spring, Ciara is teaching Drawing and Painting, Advanced and Intermediate Drawing, and co-teaching AMPED on Algebra with Isaac Tafoya.  She has a student teacher this semester as well, Karyn Wilks.

In our conversation, Ciara talks about how she provides voice and choice for her students, creates a space that is safe to make mistakes, and prioritizes showing students how much she cares about them as strategies to build engagement and inspiration.

This weeks guest is 10th grader Emilio Medina.  This is an incredible episode that really digs in to some big topics related to social-emotional learning.  Emilio is in the process of starting a new student group called "Outreach" and he talks about his ideas, inspiration and why it's so important for the students in our school.  If you can spot four analogies throughout this episode, email Mr. Jensen for a special prize.

Also, you'll notice the new artwork for this podcast.  This is original Bulldog artwork by none other than Emilio himself.

This week’s bulldog is Ryan Ogi.  This semester, Ryan co-teaches both World Studies with Mr. White, American Studies with Mr. White and Ms. Abrazado as well as AP U.S. History.

In our conversation, Ryan talks heavily about the relationships that he has built while at Arvada.  He discusses his remarkable co-teaching partnership with Mr. White and how they found developed a system that works for them through reiteration.  He provides some valuable tips and tricks for staying sane in this remarkable year of remote and hybrid learning.

Thanks for tuning in to this week's episode.

This week’s bulldog is Science facilitator and department chair Laura Schoenfeld.  This semester, Laura is teaching Chemistry, Chemistry Honors and AP Chemistry.

In our conversation, Laura shares about her unconventional path into teaching and why teaching is such a good fit.  She shares some of her learnings in supporting students and not taking everything too seriously.

This special edition of Who's Behind the Bulldog continues the conversation about what has been working, not working and ideas still to try to help make the hybrid learning experience as effective as possible for our students.

Thanks so much to Hannah Doran and Sergio Yanes for facilitating this awesome discussion with staff!

This week’s guest is 10th grade student Austin Jackson.

Austin is a student who moved to Colorado last year from Mississippi and loves his experience at Arvada High School.  He talks about some of his favorite things about Arvada and some of the differences between here and Mississippi.

Today's guest bulldog is math teacher Jason Ziegler.  This spring, Jason is teaching Geometry in Construction, Algebra II, and AP Calculus.

In our conversation, Jason discusses many of Arvada's recent successes and touches on a bit of the history.  He digs into the benefits of Restorative Practices both for a school as well as a society.  He also talks about math instruction and some of the ways he overcomes the challenges faced by teaching the subject.

Thanks for tuning in to this week's episode of "Who's Behind the Bulldog" with Jason Ziegler.

Today's guest is Assistant Principal slash Activities Director Mark Abling.  Previously, Mark was a Social Studies facilitator at Arvada and a variety of of other schools.

In our conversation, Mark opens up about how his life was impacted by a near-death soccer experience when he was in high school.  He discusses how Arvada has changes in his time here, including the impact that New Tech and Restorative Practices has had on our culture.  He also talk about his unexpected path into education and how the things he prioritizes as an educator are shaped by an inequitable system.

Thanks as always for tuning in to this week's episode of Who's Behind the Bulldog.

Today's guest on Who's Behind the Bulldog is English Senator and theater director Steven Mathis.  Steven teaches Hip Hop as Literature, Acting and Stagecraft, Film Studies and Directing and co-teaches American Studies with Nick Floerchinger and Darcy Botham.

In our conversation, Steven talks about his experiences and one of three black members of staff, how our country can improve in the recruitment of black educators, and how this is connected to the Black Lives Matter movement.  He discusses using voice and choice, cultural representation and human-centered approaches in his classroom and opens up about some past mistakes that have shaped his current mindsets in education.

Thanks, as always, for tuning in to this week's episode of Who's Behind the Bulldog.