Iola ISD: Bulldog Pride Podcast

This week on the Bulldog Pride Podcast, we're wrapping up the school year with Iola Elementary's leadership team! Host Amanda Rollert sits down with Principal Hollie Guillbeau and Assistant Principal Lauren Sanders during their final week of school to reflect on an incredible year. These dedicated leaders share how they focused on celebrating students as individuals and bringing back bel...

This week on the Bulldog Pride Podcast, we're celebrating academic excellence! Host Amanda Rollert sits down with Assistant Principal and Girls Athletic Director - Miss, Valedictorian - Shaylee McKown, and Salutatorian - Ava Bessette, during the final week of school to honor these remarkable seniors. Miss reflects on watching these young women grow up through volleyball camps, Little Diggers,...

This week on the Bulldog Pride Podcast, we're hearing directly from the students! Host Amanda Rollert and Elementary Principal Ms. Guilbeau sit down with one representative from each grade (Pre-K through 5th) to hear what makes being an Iola Bulldog so special. Meet our student panel: Pre-K student - Ramsey Gillis, Kindergartner - Cameron Jolly, 1st grader - Rhys Abbott, 2nd grader - Josiah S...

This week on the Bulldog Pride Podcast, we're celebrating Iola ISD Elementary's Special Teams! Host Amanda Rollert sits down with PE teachers - Ryanne Jolly and Coach Jayme Timm, Art/Music teacher - Gayla Blenden, and Library/GT teacher - Kylie Hammack to discuss how they build relationships, foster creativity, and help every student discover their unique gifts. These dedicated educators...

This week on the Bulldog Pride Podcast, we're going behind the scenes with the crew that keeps Iola ISD running smoothly! Host Amanda Rollert sits down with Maintenance Director Mr. Anthony Marks and team members Mr. Michael Evans and Mr. Rudy Galvan. These dedicated team members share what their day looks like—arriving before students and staff, responding to urgent issues with an "all...

This week on the Bulldog Pride Podcast, we're celebrating the sound and spirit of Iola Band! Host Amanda Rollert sits down with Band Director Mr. Taylor Fowler and six incredible seniors: Head Drum Major - Haley Hejl, Assistant Drum Major - Fallon Smith, and Band Members - Emmy Renfro, Addy Cerrillo, Blake Whitaker, and Steven Chavez. These seniors—most playing their instruments for seven yea...

This week on the Bulldog Pride Podcast, we're kicking off 2026 by celebrating Gold Star Peer Award winners from Iola’s High School & Middle School campuses and welcoming a new staff member to the Iola family! Meet our award winners: January Paraprofessional - Wendy McKown, December Employee of the Month  - Cathy Oliver (US & TX History), Paraprofessional Newcomer - Kamryn Michael, Ove...

This week on the Bulldog Pride Podcast, we're celebrating some truly exceptional educators! Host Amanda Rollert sits down with Iola Elementary's Employees of the Month, Newcomer Teacher of the Semester, and Paraprofessional of the Semester for a heartwarming conversation about what it means to serve with grace, grit, and growth. Meet this incredible group of award winners: August Employe...

This week on the Bulldog Pride Podcast, we're getting cozy with Iola Elementary's 4th grade teaching team just in time for Thanksgiving! Host Amanda Rollert sits down with ELAR teacher - Brinley Bennett, Math teacher - Michele Sullivan, and Science/Social Studies teacher - Shayanne McKown for a heartwarming conversation about traditions, gratitude, and what makes teaching 4th grade so sp...

This week on the Bulldog Pride Podcast, it's all about playoff season! Host Amanda Rollert sits down with both the volleyball and football programs as they make their postseason runs. We've got Girls Varsity Coach, Miss, and Varsity Football Coach, Eric Blenden, alongside their senior leaders who are leaving it all on the court and field. On the volleyball side, seniors Ava Bessette (Lib...

This week on the Bulldog Pride Podcast, we're hanging out with the rock stars of Iola Elementary's Student Council! Host Amanda Rollert sits down with President Kroy Larson, Vice President Teddy Fowler, Secretary Eve Hurst, and Treasurer Sadie Steinman for a fun and heartfelt conversation about what it means to be a leader. These young leaders share their thoughts on responsibility, kind...

On today's episode, I sit down with Iola's Junior High & High School leadership team: High School Principal - Brian Fowler, High School Assistant Principal - MISS, Junior High Admin & Teacher - Mandy Schwanke, Junior High History Teacher - Cathy Oliver, and High School Math Teacher - Debbie Lero. This crew shares their diverse paths into education, from former jocks to psychology...

We spend time with Iola's 1st grade teaching team: Steven McGuire, Leighton Brackin, and Denise Frazier. These teachers share what makes first grade so special - the incredible growth students make in reading and writing, those "light bulb moments" when concepts finally click, and how they create a classroom community where kindness is practiced daily. Mr. McGuire talks about keepin...

We sit down with the powerhouse team from Iola Elementary: Principal - Hollie Guilbeau, Assistant Principal - Lauren Sanders, School Nurse - Saundra Elliott, and GT Teacher - Kylie Hammack.  These ladies share what makes their campus special - the "grit, grace, and growth" motto, morning huddles that set the tone, and how relationships are at the center of everything they do. They recap...

Welcome to the very first Bulldog Pride Podcast! We kick things off by getting to know the folks steering the ship at Iola ISD. Superintendent, Jeff Dyer, shares his unique story of being a hometown kid who came back home after 20+ years to lead the district where he grew up. Athletic Director and Head Football Coach, Eric Blenden, talks about finding his perfect fit in Iola after 16 years in educ...