Public School Podcast

Season two of The Public School Podcast opens with one of the most powerful conversations yet. Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer sit down with Anita Deranleau, Rapid City Area Schools’ McKinney-Vento Coordinator, whose work ensures students experiencing housing instability can still show up, belong, and succeed. Anita pulls back the curtain on what houselessness really looks like for families in...

In this thoughtful and inspiring episode of The Public School Podcast , Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer welcome Nicole Uhre-Balk, a former Rapid City teacher, public school graduate, and current South Dakota legislator, for a wide-ranging conversation about education, advocacy, and community. Nicole shares her unconventional path into teaching (inspired by The Matrix ), her journey through Rapi...

In this energetic and insightful episode of The Public School Podcast , Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer welcome Jocelyn Hafner, principal of Stevens High School, a proud Raider, passionate leader, and self-proclaimed rule follower doing her best to survive two Type B hosts. Jocelyn shares what makes Stevens truly special, from its academic excellence and nationally competitive ACT scores to its...

In this feel-good, joy-filled episode of The Public School Podcast , Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer welcome Knollwood Elementary’s dynamic duo Ali Williams, Teacher of the Year, and Tina Rank , Support Person of the Year. These two bring sunshine everywhere they go, and this conversation proves it. Tina shares her 14-year journey as the heart of Knollwood, supporting tier-two and tier-three st...

In this inspiring episode of The Public School Podcast , Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer sit down with Dave Swank, a former Canyon Lake Elementary principal, Teach For America alum, USD professor, and proud Rapid City schools graduate. Dave shares his unlikely journey from “ten-and-a-half-year undergrad” to teacher, principal, and now board member for the Rapid City Public School Foundation. Wi...

In this powerful and heartfelt episode of The Public School Podcast , hosts Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer sit down with Dustin Calhoun - co-founder of Black Hills Badges for Hope , Rapid City Public School Foundation board member, dad, grad student, and full-time community-builder. Dustin opens up about the deeply personal origins of Badges for Hope, a program born from tragedy and transforme...

On this episode of The Public School Podcast , Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer sit down with Jessica Gates, the endlessly cheerful secretary at Rapid Valley Elementary and the district’s reigning Support Person of the Year . Jessica shares her journey from a 20-year Air Force career to becoming the “gatekeeper” of Rapid Valley. With a blend of humor, heart, and fierce dedication, she opens up a...

In this inspiring and down-to-earth episode of The Public School Podcast, hosts Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer sit down with Dennis Morton, Teacher of the Year at Rapid City Alternative Academy or as his students like to call him, The Amazing Disco Wizard. Once a high school dropout himself, Dennis now teaches the very students who remind him of who he used to be...kids on the edge of giving u...

In this heartwarming episode of The Public School Podcast, Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer welcome Michelle Eckles, Central High School’s Support Person of the Year. With 25 years of dedication as a paraprofessional, Michelle proves that kindness, laughter, and authenticity go a long way in shaping young lives. From helping high school freshmen find their footing to turning simple classroom mom...

In this episode of Public School Podcast , Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer sit down with Central High School Activities Director Jordan Bauer, whose energy for student life might just outshine the Friday-night lights. From heartfelt stories about students finding their place through sports to a viral homecoming halftime performance that left him with sore hamstrings and a roaring crowd, Jordan...

In this episode of Public School Podcast , Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer sit down with a true local legend, Pinedale Elementary’s beloved custodian, Shane Cox. Known for his giant leaf piles and even bigger heart, Shane shares how a simple rake and a smile can make school feel like home. From early morning snow shoveling to surprise leaf-jumping parties, his care for students and staff goes f...

In this inspiring episode of Public School Podcast, hosts Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer sit down with Michael Birkeland, a true product of Rapid City Area Schools whose journey has come full circle. From student to teacher, board member, and now digital instructional designer, Michael’s story is proof that education isn’t just about books and grades, it’s about people, purpose, and community....

In this episode of the Public School Podcast , hosts Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer sit down with Dr. Justin Conroy, Title I Principal for Rapid City Area Schools, to shine a light on the often-overlooked work happening behind the scenes to support at-risk and transitioning students. From students returning from treatment or juvenile programs to those facing housing instability, Dr. Conroy sha...

In this episode of the Public School Podcast, the focus is on Central High School’s journey of culture, community, and pride. Hear how a shift toward hope and empowerment is changing the student and staff experience, why fun is embraced as part of education, and how the “Always a Cobbler Fund” is creating opportunities for the future. From hallway slip-n-slides to big dreams for alumni support, th...

In this episode, Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer sit down with Kit Veit , Director of Student Success for Rapid City Area Schools. Kit shares her journey from growing up on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation to becoming a teacher, superintendent, and now a leader focused on building positive school culture. The conversation dives into what student success really means—beyond grades and test s...

In this episode of Public School Podcast , hosts Sara Hornick (Executive Director, Rapid City Public School Foundation) and Bobbi Schaefbauer (Community Relations Manager, Rapid City Area Schools) sit down with Kristen Kiner , Youth Engagement Coordinator for Rapid City Area Schools. Kristen shares her journey into youth engagement, the importance of amplifying student voices, and how programs lik...

In this special episode of The Public School Podcast , hosts Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer turn the tables and interview their own producer, Amy Rose. From her beginnings in Nashville radio to her role shaping every episode of this show, Amy shares her journey, the behind-the-scenes process of editing, and the unexpected lessons she’s learned about public education along the way. With stories...

In this episode of the Public School Podcast , hosts Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer sit down with recent Central High School graduate and former Rapid City Public School Foundation student board representative, Kelty Silbernagel. Kelty shares her journey through Rapid City Area Schools, her role in shaping the Evening of Excellence, and what it meant to be recognized among the top five percent...

In this episode of The Public School Podcast , Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer welcome Lara Roetzel, Pennington County State’s Attorney and the new president of the Rapid City Public School Foundation Board. Lara shares how her lifelong calling to public service connects with her passion for education, the powerful role schools play in crime prevention, and the importance of keeping students su...

In this episode of Public School Podcast , Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer sit down with the new superintendent of Rapid City Area Schools, Dr. Jami Jo Thompson. Fresh from Nebraska and just weeks into her new role, Dr. Thompson shares her journey from teaching middle school special education to leading entire districts, her vision for making Rapid City the “school of choice,” and her commitmen...

In Episode 16, Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer sit down with Leigh Shaw, a kindergarten teacher at Pinedale Elementary who brings heart, humor, and a deep understanding of child behavior into her classroom every day. From her own mischievous days as a student to being named Teacher of the Year at the very school she once attended, Leigh shares her full circle journey in education. She opens up...

In this uplifting and genuine conversation, Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer sit down with North Middle School Assistant Principal Jayna Morrill. From singing in the halls to driving a Zamboni, Jayna shares how she leads with humor, heart, and authenticity. She opens up about the challenges and triumphs of working in education, the importance of building relationships, and why being present matt...

In this special episode, Sara and Bobbi sit down with Sarah Gross, the new principal at Knollwood Elementary and the unofficial historian of Rapid City Area Schools. Sarah shares her passion for discovering and preserving the stories behind the district's oldest buildings and most defining moments. From fires that reshaped campuses to the evolution of neighborhood schools, she has spent years unco...

In this episode, Sara and Bobbi talk with Beth Keeney, principal at Robbinsdale Elementary and a passionate advocate for building community in public schools. With 25 years in education and nearly a decade as a principal, Beth shares how her journey shaped her approach to leadership, belonging, and student connection. From early morning greetings to innovative “community days” that bring different...

In this episode, Sara and Bobbi sit down with Micah Bransford, the Teammates Program Coordinator for Rapid City Area Schools. Micah shares how this school-based mentorship program pairs students with trusted adult mentors, creating consistent, one-on-one connections that can last from third grade through graduation. With nearly 90 active matches and a growing presence across the district, Teammate...