In this episode of the Public School Podcast, Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer sit down with Kallie Gebhard, former Horace Mann Elementary Teacher of the Year and now assistant principal at Grandview Elementary. Kallie shares her journey from fifth grade classroom teacher to school leadership and reflects on the lessons that shaped her along the way.

From building trust with students to helping them take ownership of their learning, Kallie talks about the importance of relationships in education and why meeting students where they are matters. The conversation dives into the Leader in Me program, how empowering students to lead can transform school culture, and why community involvement is so important for schools.

Kallie also shares heartfelt stories about the moments that make a career in education meaningful, including the students who return years later just to say hello. It is an honest look at the heart behind public education and the educators who show up every day to support students, families, and their community.

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In this episode of the Public School Podcast, Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer welcome two leaders from Rapid City Area Schools’ counseling team, Elizabeth Russ and Brittany Henry-James. As the district’s secondary and elementary lead counselors, they offer an honest look at what school counseling really involves.

From helping students navigate grief, housing instability, and mental health struggles to celebrating everyday wins in the classroom, Elizabeth and Brittany explain how counselors support the whole child. They also talk about how the role of school counselors has changed over time, the importance of collaboration among educators, and why building trusting relationships with students can make all the difference.

This conversation highlights the compassion, teamwork, and steady presence counselors bring to schools every day as they help students face life’s toughest moments and keep moving forward.

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Freshly named Rapid City Area Schools Teacher of the Year, Katey Swank joins the Public School Podcast to share the heart behind her fifth grade classroom at Meadowbrook Elementary. From hydroponic towers and native plant gardens to buddy programs and Feedback Fridays, Katey is building more than lessons. She is building confidence, resilience, and respect.

In this conversation, Katey talks about teaching students how to disagree respectfully, support their opinions with real evidence, and learn from mistakes because that is when the brain grows. She shares how mentorship, veteran teacher support, and cross grade connections help educators stay in the profession and thrive beyond the first five years. With humor, honesty, and a few shout outs to her students and family, this episode is a celebration of public education and the power of teachers who lead with both high expectations and big hearts.

Whether it is tying kindergarten shoelaces, launching a debate unit called Bring Your Receipts, or starting the day with three deep breaths, Katey reminds us that strong classrooms are built on courage, care, and community.

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