Beyond the Bell

In this special season finale of Beyond the Bell, we trade our policy manuals for a moment of reflection and gratitude as the final school bell rings for the 2025-2026 year. Host Patrick Flanagan, drawing on his roots as a former teacher and building principal, invites all Granite administrators to pause amidst the quiet hallways and celebrate the profound impact of their leadership. This episode...

In this May episode of Beyond the Bell , Patrick Flanagan is joined by Associate Director Wyatt Bentley to provide a review of the Spring 2026 HR Newsletter . The conversation focuses on transitioning through the end-of-year crunch with tools designed to support both administrators and their staff. A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to a friendly reminder regarding District Policy I...

In this April episode of Beyond the Bell , HR Director Patrick Flanagan provides a comprehensive guide to navigating "The Hunt for Talent" as the district enters its peak hiring season. The episode emphasizes the strategic partnership between school administrators and the Human Resources department, focusing on the process. Patrick explains how these procedural steps, while technical, are essentia...

In this episode of Beyond the Bell , HR Director Patrick Flanagan is joined by Dr. Joan Bramble, Director of Organizational Effectiveness, to demystify the Teacher Merit Award (TMA) program. They begin by addressing the essential, steps for Granite School District’s participation in a program that can provide salary supplements of up to $20,000 for top-performing educators. The conversation focuse...

This episode of Beyond the Bell serves as an audio companion to the Winter 2026 HR Newsletter , designed to help Granite School District administrators navigate the unique challenges of the mid-winter season. Host Patrick Flanagan, along with Associate Directors Brenda Byrnes and Berk King, breaks down essential "housekeeping" updates to streamline school operations, including new Frontline postin...

The January episode of Beyond the Bell dives into one of winter’s most predictable school realities: an increase in teacher absences and a surge in substitute usage. In a lighthearted and engaging conversation, HR Director Patrick Flanagan is joined by Associate Directors Brenda Byrnes (Secondary Schools) and Katy Timothy (Elementary Schools) to discuss what administrators can expect from the busy...

The holiday special episode of Before the Bell is a lighthearted and heartfelt thank-you from the Human Resources team to Granite’s principals and district administrators. Stepping away from deadlines, policies, and procedures, this episode uses a playful adaptation of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” to reflect on the shared challenges of the year—staffing shortages, evaluations, hiring, compli...

The December episode of Beyond the Bell provides school principals and district administrators with a comprehensive overview of Granite School District’s Early Retirement Incentive Program . Patrick Flanagan explains the core eligibility requirements, including years of service, Utah Retirement Systems participation, and the required HR consultation. The episode also walks through the universal di...

November's episode focuses on important timelines and programs that directly impact Granite administrators staff including evaluation deadlines, retirement notifications, the SHiNE and Teacher Merit Award (TMA) programs, stipend coach requirements, and teacher licensing updates. We also take a few moments to discuss the human side of leadership, exploring how the Dignity Index framework can help g...

The October episode of Beyond the Bell focuses on Open Enrollment, a critical time of year when every contract employee must review and elect or waive their benefits for the upcoming plan year. Joined by Associate Director of Benefits, Berkley King, Patrick Flanagan explains the open enrollment process, the September 29–October 15 timeline, and why principals play such an important role in remindi...

This month’s Beyond the Bell takes a deep dive into Progressive Discipline and Capacity Building, helping principals understand how to support employees while maintaining consistent standards. HR Director Patrick Flanagan and Associate Director Wyatt Bentley walk listeners through Granite’s step-by-step Corrective Action Framework—from informal coaching conversations to district-level intervention...

The August episode of Beyond the Bell kicks off the new school year with timely HR updates every Granite principal should know. This episode covers key evaluation reminders, including how to verify employee lists and ensure accurate assignments in Frontline before the August 5th deadline. You'll also hear an important licensing update: CACTUS is retiring in October, and the new USIMS system will r...