BG CAST

On today's episode, we talk with Simeon Redberg and Rob Pollock, who are the Esports coaches at Prairie and Battle Ground High School. If you're not sure what Esports is, this is your chance! We also shine the spotlight on Hollie Amundson, a CAM volunteer who is BGPS's real Hero for the year (along with Greg McKelvey). The Real Hero Awards recognize staff and volunteers from schools an...

In this episode, Denny and I talk with Lynnell Tsugawa-Murray and Stephanie Welniak to discuss the multilingual program which serves over 1,000 students in the district and their families who are learning English. We also shine the spotlight on Ryan Cowl, principal at CAM academy. We discussed his time there as well as the opening of the new facility.

Interview with Britt Pedlar and Gene Fritz, culinary arts teachers at Prairie and Battle Ground. We talk about their amazing programs and how they go to where they are today. We shine the spotlight with Parent Outreach Liaisons Maria Carbajal and Gleb Velikanov.

In this episode, we talk with Kris Neal and Debbie Smith who head up the Work-based learning program for the Battle Ground School District. It won't take you long to be amazed at the amount of work these two get done and how much of an impact this program is having on students in our area. We also shine the spotlight on Nick Massey from Rotschy, Inc.

In this episode, Denny and I dig into the budget for the Battle Ground Public School District. We get the big picture of how it all works and get an understanding of where the money goes! Our spotlight is on Blake Bowers, adviser of Tukes Valley Middle School's a new DREAM Team.

In this episode, we uncover a couple of superheroes for the Battle Ground Public Schools: Scott McDaniel (Director of Technology) and Cassondra Smith (Educational Technology Coordinator). Scott and Cassondra pretty much do it all! They run and maintain all the infrastructure for the entire district as well as making sure teachers, students, and families have the tools they need and know how to use...

In this episode of the podcast, we talk with Andy Woodrow who teaches the AFJROTC program at Battle Ground High School. Along with Andy we talk to Rheanne Harpe, one of the students in the program. We also get to hear from Violet Kohlenberger, a 3rd grader at Tukes Valley Primary School, who shares with us some of her culinary creations.

In today's episode, we get to have a conversation with Callie Christensen and Kelly Oriard, the Co-CEO's of Slumberkins and alums of Prairie High School. We'll hear about their journey as educators, parents, and how Slumberkins came to be. We'll shine the spotlight on Rosemary Galanter, one of our grad coaches in the district. And we get started with the game, "What country di...

When we talk about special services and all the special needs that a school district is responsible to provide for, our minds tend to go to one group. But the special services department is responsible for meeting needs of hundreds of students across the district. We also shine the spotlight on Christian, who is one of the students in the futures program. As usual we get started off with a little...

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a middle school principal? In this episode, we get a look behind the eyes of a Middle School principal in our conversation with Heather Ichimura and Ben Zieglar to get a taste of what they deal with daily. We also get to hear about the life and responsibilities of a school secretary in our spotlight with Natasha Udy.

Our interview this episode is with BGHS drama teacher Cash Henry. Battle Ground High School's theatre department has produced many great shows, including "A Christmas Carol", written by Cash that looks at Scrooge's backstory. Our spotlight is on Derek Anderson, a CAM student who rallied his classmates to create paper cranes for his uncle battling cancer. And we get started with a...

We have a special treat for you in this episode. At the March Citizens Advisory Committee, we were blessed to have a student panel of students from the different secondary schools in the district who made up a forum to answer questions that the CAC had submitted. It's a bit longer, and the audio isn't perfect, but I think you'll enjoy this episode.

In this episode, we are talking with teacher Gracelyn Crum and Director of Instructional Leadership Mike Michaud about some new steps our district is taking to teach pre-k kids in our community. Our spotlight is on Kara Martin, to talk about some of what she does as an early childhood special education teacher at Prairie.  As usual, we get started with a game called short stories.

In this episode we are talking with Tamra Scheetz, district director of instructional interventions, and Tamra Vanegas, a counselor on special assignment, talking about everything our district is doing to support the social and emotional well-being of our students. Our spotlight is on Ryan Wilson, to talk about some of what he does as a counselor at Pleasant Valley Primary School.  As usual,...

In this episode, we are talking with Andrea Sperry, the principal at Maple Grove, and Angela Knight, the principal at Captain Strong. We will be talking about professional learning communities and why they're important. Our spotlight is on Mandy Waugh to talk about her efforts to create a community of kindness and Prairie High School's "Inspire Week." As usual, we get started with some fun, random...

In this episode we are talking with Erin Thompson, an Assistant principal at Prairie High School and Taylin who is serving as the current ASB president. We will be talking about Prairie's work to build connections between the school and community. Our spotlight is on Danaka Ross, the ASB adviser and as usual, we have a little fun to get started with a game called "get to know you."

In this episode, we take some time to talk with Dave Cresap and Amy Fredericks, who work in the Curriculum adoptions department for the district, about the process for adopting a new curriculum. Our spotlight is on Jean Markuson, who is volunteering on one of the curriculum adoption teams. But to get us started we play a game called "Top Three."

In this episode, we take some time to get to know Mark Watrin, president of the school board. We are shining the spotlight on Sora, the newest student representative for the School board. As usual, we get things started with a fun round of "This or That?"

In this episode, we're talking about what the district is doing to keep our students safe. We take some time to get to know Police Chief Mike Fort and Tom Adams, director of Student Services for BGPS. We are shining the spotlight on Phil Anderson, the School Resource Officer for Battleground High School, and Mike Kesler, the district security supervisor, and we get things started with a game calle...

Welcome to the BG CAST, a podcast seeking to bring the battleground community and schools together. In this episode, we take some time to get to know Matt Stanfill and Mike Woodward from Battleground High School Athletics, we are shining the spotlight on Noah, a student-athlete at Battleground High School, and we get things started with a game called "Banana For Scale."

This week we will be talking with Josh and Ivie who are members of the CAC, aka the Citizens Advisory Committee. We'll be talking about the purpose of this committee and some of our insights from the first year. Our spotlight will be on two seniors, Evan and Kaeyln who just graduated. And as usual, we kick things off with the top ten quotes about dads.

One of the characteristics of being a smaller community is the fact that many people have lived in the area for generations. You'll hear that today as we talk with Allison Tuchardt & Dave Cresap about their roots in the Battleground community. Our spotlight will be on a couple of teachers who are also alumni of the Battleground Public Schools, and who were inspired to become teachers because o...

This week Denny and I are joined by Curtis Miller who helped start a coalition called connect BG which was trying to increase the size of the caring adult network and to create a more connected community. Our spotlight for this week is on the Battleground Education Foundation. We play a little game called Fantasy Sandwich Draft. As usual, we kick things off with the Top ten signs your Teacher is r...

Denny and I will be talking with the Mayor of Battleground, Philip Johnson. We discuss the role schools play in the community, as well as some of the changes that have been and will be happening in the Battleground community. Our Spotlight will be with Bethany Emerson and Grant Kainu talking about PTO & PTA organizations in the schools. We'll be playing the game, "Which country did this weird...

Denny and I will be talking about the importance of Social-Emotional Learning in the district with Deputy Superintendent Shelly Whitten, and Mike Michaud the director of Instructional Leadership. Our Spotlight will be with Marcy Sprecher, the Executive Director of Rock Solid Teen Center. We'll be playing a round of Family feud for our game, and as usual we get started off with the "Top Ten Ways Yo...