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Public School Podcast

Public School Podcast

Written by: Amy Rose
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About this listen

Welcome to The Public School Podcast, where real stories, real people, and real passion for

education come together. Hosted by Sara Hornick, Executive Director of the Public School

Foundation, and Bobbi Schaefbauer, Community Relations Manager for Rapid City Area

Schools, we’re diving into the heart of public education.


Each episode, we sit down with community members, dedicated school staff, and passionate

advocates to ask one simple but powerful question:

Why do public schools matter?


From classroom wins to community-wide challenges, The Public School Podcast is your

front-row seat to the conversations that shape our students’ futures and our shared tomorrow.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Opportunity Is the Word: Guiding Freshmen Toward Their Future
    Jan 21 2026

    In this upbeat and thoughtful episode of The Public School Podcast, Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer sit down with Adam Dannenbring, freshman seminar teacher, personal finance instructor, and multi-sport coach at Rapid City Stevens High School.

    Adam walks listeners through what freshman seminar really is and why it may be one of the most important classes a student ever takes. From organization and goal setting to job interviews, mental health, relationships, and real-world readiness, he explains how the course helps students navigate one of the biggest transitions of their lives.

    The conversation also dives into the powerful overlap between classroom teaching and coaching. Adam shares how athletics build discipline, accountability, and confidence, and how public schools create opportunities for students to try new things, discover passions, and learn what does and doesn’t fit them. With humor, honesty, and a few classic dad jokes, Adam reminds us that education is about far more than grades. It’s about opportunity, growth, and preparing students for life beyond high school.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    35 mins
  • Education Was My Way Out: Inside the Heart of McKinney-Vento
    Jan 14 2026

    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 our community and why it often goes unseen. From 6:30 a.m. transportation calls to emergency food runs, clothing closets, and late-afternoon problem-solving, she shares what it takes to remove barriers so students can stay in school, stay connected, and keep hope alive.


    With honesty, compassion, and deep personal insight shaped by her own experience growing up in poverty, Anita explains why stability matters, how trust is built, and why schools must serve the whole child. This episode is emotional, eye-opening, and a powerful reminder that public schools are often the last safety net for families in crisis.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    50 mins
  • Foundation of Democracy: Education, Advocacy, and Finding the Code
    Dec 24 2025

    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 Rapid City schools, and how classroom experience prepared her for life in the legislature. From advocating for students and families to explaining how teachers shape democracy itself, Nicole offers a powerful reminder that public schools are more than buildings, they are the foundation of a strong society.

    The episode explores the importance of communication between educators and lawmakers, how communities can better support schools, and why students and teachers continue to give her hope for the future. Honest, uplifting, and deeply rooted in service, this conversation highlights the impact educators have far beyond the classroom.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    42 mins
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