LEAP Into Wellness Podcast Network

Matt Wolcott on Teaching, Coaching, and Finishing the School Year Strong in La Grande Brett Smith and Scott Carpenter host the Turning Point Podcast with guest Matt Wolcott, a 26-year La Grande School District educator who currently teaches high school physical education and health. Wolcott discusses additional work including teaching an officiating course to recruit young officials and helping la...

Springtime in the Front Office: A School Secretary’s Role at Island City On a Friday morning Turning Point Podcast episode, the hosts talk with Island City head secretary Ms. Perry (with Mr. Carpenter) about her path from office administration work to stay-at-home parenting, then returning to school as a para and eventually becoming head secretary. They discuss the springtime rush in a school offi...

Turning Point Podcast: Clarifying Essential Standards and Strengthening Tier 1 Instruction Through PLC and RTI Work Host Brett Smith and assistant superintendent Scott Carpenter of the La Grande School District are joined by fourth-grade teacher Justin and visiting Solution Tree facilitator Eric from Arizona to reflect on district training focused on RTI, PLCs, and strengthening Tier 1 instruction...

In this episode of FIT to Teach, host Kyle Pfaffenbach (associate professor at Eastern Oregon University and director of the EOU Lab for Exercise Assessment and Performance) and LEAP intern Cole Jorgensen welcome guest Dr. Alysia Cohen (EOU health and human performance faculty member, certified athletic trainer, Olympic lifting coach, and strength and conditioning certified) to discuss resistance...

On a Valentine’s Day special of the Turning Point Podcast, Mr. Carpenter and Mr. Smith are joined by their wives, Julie Carpenter and Kirsten Smith, to discuss what it’s like to build a family life around careers in education. Julie shares how she once said she’d never marry an educator, then reflects on Scott’s progression from teaching to administration, the growing pains of each role, and how s...

In this episode of FIT to Teach, Dr. Kyle Pfaffenbach, an associate professor at Eastern Oregon University and the director of the EOU Lab for Exercise Assessment and Performance (LEAP), and LEAP intern Cole explore the intricacies of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). They delve into the benefits, functionality, and practical use of CGMs for monitoring health and wellness, particularly for teac...

Navigating School Finance with Melissa Reagan - In this episode of the Turning Point Podcast, host Brett Smith sits down with Assistant Superintendent Scott Carpenter and Melissa Reagan, the business director for La Grande School District. Melissa discusses her 18-year journey within the district, from starting as a fiscal officer to becoming the business manager. The conversation covers the chall...

Introducing the Wearable Checkout Program for Teachers - In this episode of FIT to Teach, co-hosts Dr. Kyle Pfaffenbach from Eastern Oregon University and intern Cole Jorgensen discuss their new wearable checkout program designed to help teachers monitor and improve their health and wellness. They highlight various wearable devices such as the Oura Ring for sleep and activity tracking, continuous...

In this episode of the Turning Point Podcast, host Brett Smith and Assistant Superintendent Scott Carpenter welcome kindergarten teacher Michelle Net from Island City School. The conversation explores Michelle's unconventional path to becoming a teacher, her methods for creating a fun and engaging classroom environment, and the importance of building strong relationships with students and their fa...

Promoting Healthy Eating Behaviors in Children: Insights and Strategies In this episode of 'FIT to Teach,' hosted by Dr. Kyle Pfaffenbach and intern Cole Jorgensen, the discussion centers around translating evidence-based health and wellness research into practical applications for teachers and school employees. The episode explains the delay in recent content due to technical difficulties and emp...

In this episode of the Turning Point Podcast, hosts Brett Smith and Scott Carpenter are joined by Cody Eby, an HR extraordinaire, to discuss the intricate role of HR in educational environments. The conversation touches on Cody's journey to her current position in the Grande School District and explores the unique challenges of HR in schools, including compliance with federal and state laws, recru...

Thriving Through the Holidays: Tips for Teachers - In this episode of 'FIT to Teach', host Dr. Kyle, an associate professor at Eastern Oregon University, and LEAP intern Cole Jorgensen discuss evidence-based health and wellness information tailored for teachers and school employees, focusing specifically on holiday season wellness. They talk about the impact of holiday eating on weight gain, citin...

"Sleep Hygiene and Chrono Nutrition: Enhancing Educator Health" In this episode of FIT to Teach, host Dr. Kyle Pfaffenbach and LEAP intern Cole discuss the importance of sleep hygiene and circadian rhythm on health and wellness for educators. They delve into a research paper from Italy on 'Chrono Nutrition,' which highlights how the timing of meals and nutrient intake can impact our biological clo...

In this episode of FIT to Teach, host Dr. Kyle, an associate professor of Health and Human Performance, and intern Cole, delve into personalizing exercise and nutrition for health and wellness. They discuss the importance of finding individualized exercise routines, the benefits of variety in workouts, and how different people respond to different fitness programs. Additionally, they highlight the...

In this edition of The Turning Point Podcast, host Brett Smith along with Mr. Carpenter welcomes two new assistant principals, Caleb Patterson and Steve Collins, to discuss their journeys in education and their initial experiences at La Grande School District. The conversation highlights their backgrounds, motivations for entering education, and the lessons they've learned as new administrators. T...

Understanding Insulin Beyond Blood Sugar Regulation: Insights and Practical Tips In this episode of FIT to Teach, Associate Professor Kyle Pfaffenbach from Eastern Oregon University and LEAP intern Cole delve into the multifaceted role of insulin beyond glycemic control. They discuss the research paper ' Understanding Insulin Actions Beyond Glycemic Control: A Narrative Review,' explaining the div...

In this episode of the Turning Point Podcast, host Brett Smith and assistant superintendent Scott Carpenter are joined by fourth-grade teacher Justin and special guest Eric from Solution Tree. They discuss their professional journeys and the impact of attending an RTI conference. Key topics include the importance of clarity in education, the value of teamwork, and strategies for effective professi...

In this episode of FIT to Teach, host Dr. Kyle and LEAP intern Cole Jorgensen discuss the importance of sleep for teachers' health and wellness. They revisit key insights from the previous episode on self-care and delve into Dr. Matthew Walker's research paper, 'Sleep Loss and the Socioemotional Brain.' They highlight the biological and psychological consequences of sleep deprivation, discuss stra...

In this episode of the Turning Point Podcast, host Brett Smith chats with Assistant Superintendent Scott Carpenter and Superintendent George Mendoza about starting the school year, their preparations over the summer, and the importance of teamwork and leadership in education. The discussion includes updates on current projects like the RTI summit, thoughts on maintaining a positive school culture,...

In this episode of 'Fit to Teach', hosts Kyle and LEAP intern Cole Jorgensen discuss the importance of self-care for teachers and school employees based on evidence-based health and wellness information. They focus on a recent research paper titled 'Teachers on Self-Care' from the OMB Integrative and Complementary Medicine Journal. The paper explores the benefits of self-care, the barriers teacher...

Navigating Middle School Success: Insights from Educators. In this episode of the Turning Point Podcast, hosts Brett Smith, Scott Carpenter, and special guest Chris Wagner discuss the dynamics of managing a middle school. They share insights into the unique challenges and rewards of running secondary schools, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Chris Wagner, the middle school principa...

In this episode of the Turning Point Podcast, Brett Smith hosts assistant superintendent Scott Carpenter and Dr. Maddie Koenig, principal of Greenwood Elementary. They discuss the intricate preparations required for a smooth start to the school year, focusing on the frantic summer months leading up to the first day of school. Dr. Koenig shares her journey to becoming a principal and her love for G...

In the final episode of the Fit to Teach podcast, Edgar and Nathan, interns at the LEAP Lab, offer insights into the importance of balance in life. They discuss maintaining a healthy lifestyle through proper habits like protein consumption, sleep hygiene, and engaging in diverse physical activities. They emphasize that while discipline is necessary for healthy living, indulgences during vacations...

In this episode of FIT to Teach, hosts Nathan Marshall and Edgar Romero, both senior exercise science students, discuss the differences between intuitive eating and calorie tracking. They emphasize the benefits of focusing on macronutrients—protein, fat, and carbohydrates—over simply counting calories. Key points include the recommended daily protein intake based on physical activity levels, strat...

In this episode of Fit to Teach, host Nathan Marshall and guest Edgar Romero discuss various approaches to recovery for athletes and active individuals. They cover essential recovery techniques like proper sleep, nutrition, and foam rolling. They also delve into more specific methods such as recovery shakes, balanced meals post-workout, and the use of massage guns and normatec boots. The conversat...