Buried Treasure

In today’s show we highlight the trait of Drive. The skill of showing up consistently, always working hard, and pushing for growth. What better personification of this than our very own Larry Bales. Mr. Bales is familiar face to many in our community as a 37 year veteran PE teacher for the Dayton Grade School. Generations of students were taught more than physical movements in his classes. They le...

Have you ever wondered how the Dayton Schools approach the complexity of teaching reading and writing? Today we learn more about this as we chat with grade school principal, Dana Symons, and junior high principal, Jami Fluke. Together, they share about the programs and techniques used in their buildings to advance literacy achievement. The views and opinions expressed by the speakers in this inter...

In today’s show we speak with our Director of Teaching and Learning and High School Principal, Robin VanBuren. We welcome Robin back to the show to share how we have been expanding opportunities for our students through our electives and Career Technical Programs. Robin pulls back the curtain on the process to align our programs and with our vision. From staffing to scheduling and collaboration to...

In today’s show we continue our "State of the Pirate" mini-series with the theme: "Raising the bar through relationships and accountability". Our guests are Dayton Grade School Assistant Principal Jeff Taylor and Dayton Junior/ Senior High Assistant Principal Nicole Long. Listen for their insights on school culture, data, and goals for the 2025-2026 school year. Thoughts and op...

We begin season 3 with part 1 of our, “The State of the Pirate!” mini-series. This selection of episodes will focus on what is happening in the Dayton School District. Today, we will feature perspectives from two of our school board members; Larry Ringnalda and Kraig Albright. Listen as we share what makes us proud to be a Pirate. Thoughts and opinions expressed by the hosts and guests in this pod...

Today we chat Safety and Security with Robert Osburn, the district's new dedicated maintenance staff, and Maintenance Director Otto Rice. We learn more about their history at the Dayton School District and their experiences in emergency services. Otto and Robert share how they work with our committees to improve the facilities and how they built a team with trust and high expectations. Hint: C...

Welcome to episode 32 of Buried Treasure. In this episode we meet Ashley Brown. Ashley has been with the school district since 2022. She currently an instructional assistant at the Dayton Junior High in the Special Education Department. Together, we learn more about the traits of optimism, drive, and curiosity through the lens of Ashley’s stories and experience.  She explains how routine and consi...

Today we are joined Mayor of Dayton, Annette Frank. Annette shares how infrastructure, planning, and budgets play a vital role in developing a vibrant community. We learn more about the on-going construction in our downtown core, and, together, we dive deeper into the vision of building a community hub. Thoughts and opinions expressed by the hosts and guests in this podcast do not represent that o...

Welcome to Episode 30 of Buried Treasure! Normally we uncover hidden stories from individuals in our community. This show is a little different as we look to demystify The Dayton School District’s Agriculture Department. Today, we bring back Mitch Coleman and introduce Claire Coleman so they can share about the upcoming changes to the AG program.  Together, we honor Mitch’s 35 years in this role,...

In this show we speak with Dayton High School Sophomore, Brody Jimenez. Brody shares the benefits of a small school: small class sizes, community atmosphere, and opportunities in athletics. He demonstrates through his words and actions what it means to be a “Pirate” and follow our mission: Community, Integrity, and Hope; through his desire to help his community and be one of the “good guys” on cam...

Let's talk shop with Dayton High School Mechanics teacher, Charlie Hascall. In this episode we learn more about the "Taco Coupe", a student project that gained national attention at The Race of Gentlemen. We also learn more about how art and humanity influence the otherwise rugged craft of welding. Thoughts and opinions expressed by the hosts and guests in this podcast do not represent that of the...

Join us for a conversions with Dayton High School Senior, Lillie Brooks. Lillie is a multi-sport athlete and student member of the Dayton School Board. We learn what drives her to be involved in her community. Lillie shares the pressures facing students today and what keeps her looking for hope. Laugh along with us as we learn more about Lillie. GO Pirates! Thoughts and opinions expressed by the h...

Today we speak with Maria Elena Sandoval Perez; Dayton Alum, resident, and current parent. Maria shares her experiences growing this community, from the family nights to the football games. She provides insight into raising a family in a multi-lingual household. And we discuss how it is okay not to know all of the answers. The journey to improving is a path we all must take. Thoughts and opinions...

We kick off season 2 of Buried Treasure with Dayton Alum, Bill Stoller. This influential member of the Dayton community shares stories from his youth, and the path that led to his successful career in business and industry. Together we discuss what makes Dayton a special place to live. We are so thankful for his time and commitment to the growth of this community. Thoughts and opinions expressed b...

Today we speak with Dayton School District's Citizen of the Year: Jamie Oliveira. We learn more about Jamie and why he is so generous with his time and talents. We talk about the ABC Foundation's relationship with the school and share that communities grow stronger when we lift each other up. Thoughts and opinions expressed by the hosts and guests in this podcast do not represent that of t...

Today we speak internships and career exploration with former teacher and board member Debbie Kearns. Debbie has been involved with our schools for over 30 years in a wide-range of roles. She shares why she made Dayton her home and how her childhood impacted her steady roll in this community. We welcome back Robin Van Buren to this show as well. Robin and Debbie compare the parallels of their role...

Join us as we discuss advocacy and conflict resolution with photographer, volunteer, and fifth-generation resident, Amy Webster. Amy shares her experiences as a parent in our school system: what it is like to navigate the tough issues and how communications has changed significantly since the days of the "School Scene". Let us guide you through the process of mediation and learn that str...

Our desire with this podcast is to uncover the compelling and untold stories around our community. A passion that is also shared with our guest, Shane Wall of Valley Trademark . Whether it is high school basketball, trap shooting, or even a chess match (?) Shane is ready to document and share the experience. In this episode, we learn how this Dayton resident broke into the industry, what it takes...

We "Meet the Hosts" in this episode. Our hosts Amy Fast and John Bixler share their own stories and backgrounds in education as we learn more about the people behind the podcast. They discuss the evolution of classroom technology, the emergence of artifical intellegence, and ... phobias? It's time to get vulnerable and uncomfortable as we put the hosts in the hot seat. 

En este episodio, Ana Lundren y María Alcaraz-Reyes hablan sobre sus ocupaciones como Enlace Familiar para el distrito escolar de Dayton. Como madres que navegaron por un nuevo  sistema educativo, Ana y María se convirtieron en firmes defensoras de sus propios hijos. Al hacerlo, aprendieron sobre las muchas oportunidades que ofrece nuestro sistema educativo, así como los desafíos que presenta para...

We jump right into it in this episode. There is so much to cover as we welcome Steve Sugg back to the district. Recently retired, Steve was the Superintendent of Dayton Schools from July 2020 to June 2023. He provided stability during a major school disruption (pandemic/ distance learning) and guided us during a multi-million dollar Facilities and Improvements Bond. There was no shortage of stress...

Come meet long-time resident, parent, and pre-school teacher, Tiffany Ashley. We discuss together the phrase 'daycare desert' and how that pushed Tiffany to develop her program from the early days of a cooperative to being partnered with the school. We also spend a bit of time discussing siblings and the debate of "Nature v.s. Nurture". Tiffany's positivity shines through dur...

Cher, Pele, Shaq, ... Mitch. Today we interviewed Dayton's single name celebrity, Mitch Coleman. Referred to mostly by his first name, Mitch has been teaching Agriculture and leading our nationally recognized FFA program since 1990. Learn what drives him to success and how he's changed his perspective over the course of his long, celebrated career. It's easy to see why so many Dayton f...

This week we speak with Michelle Borst, Dean of Students at the Dayton Junior High/ High School. We grapple together defining that role, one we know can be very difficult. She states: "There are times when it can be a no-win situation". Learn how she navigates conflict, helps student regulate their behavior, and where she finds the hope in the everyday. Beyond this role, Michelle is also...

Join us as we speak with "recovering" school board member, Jeff Crapper. He is known around Dayton, and beyond, for his passion in the fields of C.T.E. and educational best-practice. Trust us, we spent a good chunk of this episode discussing his career path; but there is more to his story beyond the resume. In this episode we uncover the trauma that drives him to achieve, the emotions of...