Supercast

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Jenna Miller:
Being a part of this Bus Day, going around to different schools and celebrating outstanding educators means a lot. You actually get to learn about what these outstanding educators are doing in their classroom, the impact they're having.

Laura Klarman:
We saw the mayors involved, they would come to their local schools. I love seeing again that community support is so important.

Anthony Godfrey:
Hello and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. They are the quiet but fiercely passionate force behind celebrating 68 Outstanding Educators in Jordan School District every year. On this episode of the Supercast, meet the caring community volunteers who are part of the Jordan Education Foundation, the group that makes it possible to recognize and reward teachers who rise to the top. They reward teachers in every one of our schools, teachers who are often brought to tears when total strangers show up to thank them for their tireless work in the classroom.

Anthony Godfrey:
We are on the bus today celebrating Outstanding Educators with the Jordan Education Foundation. We're talking now with Jordan Education Foundation President Jenna Miller. Jenna, thanks for taking a few minutes with us.

Jenna Miller:
So glad to be here, so glad to be on the bus today.

Anthony Godfrey:
So for those who do not know what Bus Day is or even Outstanding Educator Awards, would you please describe what this program and what this day is all about?

Jenna Miller:
Yes, I would love to. So the Jordan Education Foundation, each year we have the opportunity to recognize outstanding educators in every school in our District. There's one day in particular where we join together and ride on the yellow school bus as a [Jordan Education] Foundation Board with a great driver. We have the chance to visit the top 12 or 14 teachers that were nominated for Outstanding Educator for the entire District.

Anthony Godfrey:
There's an award for an educator at every one of our 68 schools and for 14 of them, they receive $1,000 and an invitation to the banquet. It's just for every educator, this just means the world. All of them get a sign for their yard and a sign for the school so that everyone knows what an amazing educator they are, along with a lot of other really cool prizes. So the Foundation does an incredible job of putting together a really fun package for every teacher. You've done this for a long time. Talk to me about the impact of giving these awards.

Jenna Miller:
Well, it's always a pleasure to be able to go out and visit all 68 schools every year to see the things that they are doing, to recognize Outstanding Educators. As a Foundation, we have the chance to read nominations that principals and staff and students and parents and peers put together. So, we actually get to learn about what these Outstanding Educators are doing in their classroom, the impact they're having with their school and with students in terms of their testing and the impact that they're having each and every year through their nominations.

Anthony Godfrey:
We get to see the families come, families are invited to supporting their teachers, talk about that.

Jenna Miller:
Yes, this is the best. So all of these visits are kept as a surprise. But the principal reaches out to family members to let them know that this special award will be given and they coordinate with family to make it a large surprise. People fly in from out of state. There's family members, friends, sisters, cousins, as well as their peers in the school. It makes the party even better to have the people that you love there to celebrate you.

Anthony Godfrey:
It's really an amazing experience to be able to see a teacher honored in this way. And there's no way it can happen without the Foundation. So we really can't thank you enough for your leadership and for all the work that the Foundation Board members do and our sponsors do to make these awards possible.

Jenna Miller:
Yes, we are so grateful for our sponsors, for the community support that we receive from businesses and individuals that want to support Outstanding Educators in our District. And it does impact our schools and our District overall, and we're grateful for this opportunity.

Anthony Godfrey: :
It's a huge morale boost, not just for those getting the award, but it feels good to be in a District that has this community support and the Foundation really provides that in a way that I don't think anyone else in this state benefits from. So we're really thrilled to have you and to have the Foundation be so involved in who we are as a District.

Jenna Miller:
Well, thank you. Yes, we have four staff and 32 volunteer community members that give up their time, their talents, their treasure to all support educators and students in our District.

Anthony Godfrey:
Any moments or stories from this year in particular that stand out for you?

Jenna Miller:
Well, one of the things that we love, especially on Bus Day, is to get to recognize our Principal of the Year. And that's something we got to do today at Aspen Elementary School. Principal Susie Williams, who has had amazing impact on this school, but also the community that her school resides in. Susie does a great job and it was such a privilege and honor to recognize her as the Principal of the Year.

Anthony Godfrey:
Thanks for everything you're doing.

Jenna Miller:
Thank you.

Male Voice:
We are here to recognize Ms. Heckman as Copper Hills Outstanding Educator of the Year.

Female Voice:
It was really powerful enough to just go and do that for a lot of people, appreciate all the hard work you do. Sorry.

Male Voice:
So we are really fortunate to work with a great group of people. Look at all the people that are here to support you today. But we get nice donations from the community to help support our educators. They want us to let you know that you're loved and appreciated.

Anthony Godfrey:
We're talking now with Ryan Gregerson, the newest member of the Jordan Education Foundation Board. Introduce yourself and tell us what it's been like to jump in right before teacher awards like this.

Ryan Gregerson:
It was like the best timing ever. So I'm an attorney in town, have a law firm in South Jordan. I grew up in Jordan School District going to all the schools in Jordan School District and also the son of an educator. My dad was an elementary school teacher for 40 plus years. My mom was a lunch lady. My sister's a teacher. So education's super important to me, and it was just such an honor to be on the Board. And the best time ever to start being on the Board and get to see all these amazing educators getting these awards.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah, it's so fun and it means a lot to have members of the community come back and you have a ton of education connections. We have a connection as well. You were my student in middle school many years ago.

Ryan Gregerson:
Yes, indeed.

Anthony Godfrey:
And a very memorable one in all the right ways.

Ryan Gregerson:
Yeah, it was great. Honestly, we talk and I tell everybody this even when Dr. Godfrey's not here, but in eighth grade and ninth grade, he was the favorite teacher. Everybody loved being in his class. He was the cool teacher, had a band that he played in. Had him for English in eighth grade, French in ninth grade. Great memories of last year of being a middle school up in Copperton.Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah.

Ryan Gregerson:
That had ever existed and then we got to open up West Hills Middle School, which was also super fun.

Anthony Godfrey:
We shut it down together.

Ryan Gregerson:
We did, we did.

Anthony Godfrey:
Talk to me about how you have felt as you have seen and been a part of honoring these teachers at various schools.

Ryan Gregerson:
What's been really special for me is it's in part, I always kind of see it like it's also my dad. Because he sacrificed a lot to be a teacher and to raise our family and to do all the things that he did for his students. So seeing these same sacrifices be recognized by amazing teachers, inspiring kids, is just so personally special to me to see that recognition happening and to be inspired by them.

Anthony Godfrey:
Well, it means a lot to have you on the Foundation Board. We love that you're part of it. What would you say to those who are thinking about being involved either through a donation or by serving on the Board?

Ryan Gregerson:
I mean, there's so many things that are great about what the Foundation does. With the South Valley Chamber last year, we had the opportunity to do a fundraiser to be able to provide more for the pantry packs. It was something I didn't even know existed that through the school district and the Foundation, that students who don't have sometimes a meal over the weekend or over a holiday, that there's something that actually can be done to help give these meals to them. That there are actually students in this District who don't have meals and that there's a way to be able to provide those. So, donations to the Foundation, donations through the pantry pack or different coats and clothing just makes a difference for these wonderful students who need it. Because we do have needs even though maybe people don't remember that or don't realize it, there are. When we can help them meet those needs for these students, then they can focus on their education. They can focus on learning the things that they need to so that they can grow up and have things to be successful in life.

Anthony Godfrey:
I'm glad you mentioned that the celebrations and honoring teachers is a really important part of what the Foundation does. There are many other things the Foundation does as well, including making sure kids are fed so they can learn, and that they're fed overnight, that they're fed over the weekend, just taking great care of kids in every aspect of their lives. So, thank you for everything you do to help that.

Ryan Gregerson:
That's my pleasure.

Anthony Godfrey:
As you've been honoring teachers, there's a quote you've shared. Will you share that with everyone now?

Ryan Gregerson:
Yeah, absolutely. It's from Fred Rogers, otherwise known as Mr. Rogers. He said that, “Anyone who does something to help a child is a hero to me,” and that's really what I see these teachers are, is they really are true heroes to these children, to our community.

Anthony Godfrey:
Well, your dad is a hero to a lot of people, and I can't thank you enough for being part of this. I was so happy to see you sign up for the Foundation Board. We have a lot of good times ahead of us.

Ryan Gregerson:
No doubt about it, I appreciate you guys so much.

Ryan Gregerson:
All right, so Mr. Rogers said that, “Anybody that helps a child in this life is a hero to me.” And you are a true hero to these kids, and we appreciate you. A few things here, this is your official invitation to the banquet at the aquarium. There's that for you. This is the nomination. You need to read all the wonderful things that were written about you so you can share them. So that's for you as well. And then last and of course not least, all of our finalists received a $1,000 award.

Anthony Godfrey:
Stay with us when we come back. More from members of the Jordan Education Foundation.

Male Voice:
Never miss an episode of the Supercast by liking and subscribing on your favorite podcasting platform. Find transcripts for this episode and others at supercast.jordandistrict.org.

Female Voice:
They're out on the job in the rain, sleet, snow, ice, and in the sunshine. As Jordan School District students navigate their way to and from school every day, we are truly grateful for our city crossing guards, always vigilant and looking out for students to ensure everyone's safety. Because they work so hard protecting our kids, let's give those crossing guards a hand. If you're driving near or around schools, slow down, pay attention, watch for students and staff, and follow instructions from the school crossing guards, and know our cities are always looking to hire crossing guards. If you like kids and need some flexible hours, contact your local city and apply to be a crossing guard today. Together, let's make this a safe and successful school Year.

Male Voice:    . . . as Herriman Elementary Outstanding Educator of the Year!

Anthony Godfrey:
We are in the gym of Aspen Elementary. We’ve just awarded Principal of the Year and Outstanding Educator for Aspen Elementary. We're talking with Laura Klarman, who is one of the Board members for Jordan Education Foundation. Introduce yourself, talk about your role and how it feels to be a part of these celebrations.

Laura Klarman:
You bet. So I am a marketing and communication manager at Riverton Hospital. I've been there 13 years.

Anthony Godfrey:
Wow.

Laura Klarman:
So lucky 13. One thing I love about healthcare and education is it touches every family in our area. I live in our community, I work in our community, and I serve in our community. So being a part of this Bus Day, going around to different schools and celebrating outstanding educators, means a lot to me. My mom was a school librarian, my sister teaches at high school, and we all remember those outstanding teachers in our lives that make a difference.

Anthony Godfrey:
It makes a huge impact when someone like you comes in. I mean, I'm paid to support teachers, but you choose to come here. You choose to be a part of this, donate your time. Riverton Hospital has been extremely generous through you. You've hosted our meetings, we've done tours. You've done so many things to help support us, and it means the world when it's someone from outside of our organization that is really emphasizing the impact on the community these teachers have.

Laura Klarman:
Yeah, in fact, we love our community. We want to help people live the healthiest lives possible, and part of that is a good education. We want to start people out strong. We love kids. We have Primary Children's services at our hospital. So we treat families. We see families, and we know that they're healthier and happier when they have a good school experience. And we love the teachers because they are a part of that experience.

Anthony Godfrey:
You even provided speakers for the podcast to help elevate the health of our community and our students, including a doctor that specializes in vaping and its negative impacts and helping prevent students from engaging in that. So, you've supported us in so many different ways, and it just shows the value of having the community as a partner, as we educate these students. And really, we have the same goals but different roles. But we're all working toward building this community and making it a great place to be and you and Riverton Hospital are a really important part of that. Tell me some of the stories you've heard as you've had the opportunity to go from school to school, and you see the families, and you hear from colleagues, and from the teachers. What are some of the stories that have really touched you?

Laura Klarman:
One of the teachers stuck out in my mind, she was retiring this year. So she has been a teacher for years. This was her last year. I was really touched by that because she was being recognized as she was leaving. So retirements are bittersweet.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah.

Laura Klarman:
It's a good ending to a good beginning. And so we see that all the time in healthcare and in education. We saw the mayors involved, they would come to their local schools. I love seeing, again, that community support is so important. And then all our Board members who are leaders in their own right.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah.

Laura Klarman:
They own businesses, they serve their community, they're elected officials. Or they've been teachers themselves, so they know how important this is. So it's been great community building to see everybody come together.

Anthony Godfrey:
And seeing the kids and their enthusiasm when their teacher's being honored. It's really fun to see how excited they are for their teacher.

Laura Klarman:
It was electric. When we went to Bluffdale Elementary, my kids went there. So it was really fun to go back. And it was electric as we walked in, and you feel like a superstar. And really the superstars are these teachers, right? And the principals and the kids, and so it was really touching.

Anthony Godfrey:
Well, thank you for making it possible. There's just no way we could do it without you, so.

Laura Klarman:
Thanks, I love being here. I love it.

Anthony Godfrey:
Thanks for joining us on another episode of the Supercast. Remember, “Education is the most important thing you will do today!” We'll see you out there.

Teacher:
One of my students came back in with a huge smile on her face. I asked her how Golden Hour was and she said that it was so much fun. She loves reading with the grandmas and grandpas. Oh, they get so excited.

Diana:
And then we had different kids this month and last month. And some of them said, “we have to go back. That was so fun.” They love it.

Anthony Godfrey:
Hello, and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. It is a heartwarming partnership among senior citizens and elementary school students, a partnership where seniors from a local assisted living center are showing up and reading with kids in the school's media center. On this episode of the Supercast, we take you to Oquirrh Elementary School. That's where we see firsthand how being book buddies is building connections and companionship among students and seniors and bridging a generation gap. But best of all, it is inspiring a love of literacy in young children who look forward to the monthly visits from their senior friends.

Anthony Godfrey:
We are here at Oquirrh Elementary School during Golden Hour Reading, where Sun Ridge Assisted Living residents are working with students to improve their reading skills. Let's listen in.

Anthony Godfrey
I'm talking now with one of our visitors and one of the students here at Oquirrh Elementary. Tell me your name, what grade you're in.

Cooper:
Cooper and first grade.

Anthony Godfrey:
And Cooper, how's first grade going?

Cooper:
Good.

Anthony Godfrey:
And what did you guys read today?

Cooper:
Going Fishing.

Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, Going Fishing. So what did you like most about the book?

Cooper:
Like you have to get a special hook, like as a fish, but it's not actually a fish on it, but there's no splashing.

Anthony Godfrey:
And does this make you want to be a fisherman?

Cooper:
Yes. I really want to go fishing with my dad.

Anthony Godfrey:
So go home today and tell him, “Dad, I read about fishing and it's time we go fishing.”

Cooper:
OK.

Anthony Godfrey:
All right, nice to meet you. So how did it feel to be read to? First introduce yourself and how did you feel being read to today?

Dale Koth:
Felt great.

Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me your name.

Dale Koth:
I'm Dale Koth.

Anthony Godfrey:
And you're one of the early volunteers to come visit, but I understand there's something in your history that would make that not much of a surprise that you want to be at an elementary school.

Dale Koth:
I'm a retired teacher, elementary school teacher.

Anthony Godfrey:
And where did you teach?

Dale Koth:
I taught at Terra Linda for a while, and I also taught at Southland Elementary.

Anthony Godfrey:
How long did you teach? When did you start and when did you finish?

Dale Koth:
OK, I taught for about 29 years. I think it was in 1974.

Anthony Godfrey:
Wow. Over 50 years ago.

Dale Koth:
That's right. That's right. Yeah, in a little town called Antimony, Utah.

Anthony Godfrey:
OK.

Dale Koth:
I had nine kids.

Anthony Godfrey:
Nine kids in your class?

Dale Koth:
Five in the third, five in the second, five in the first.

Anthony Godfrey:
Wow.

Dale Koth:
No kindergarten because there were no kindergarten kids there.

Anthony Godfrey:
And from there you went to--

Dale Koth:
I went to-- I taught every year then I went to Blanding.

Anthony Godfrey:
Wow.

Dale Koth:
And I taught Blanding Elementary. I taught three years. Then we came to the Jordan School District and I started in Southland Elementary. Taught there for about, I don't know, three years. May have been longer, but I forget. And then I went to Quail Hollow and I taught at Quail Hollow for a long time.

Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, wow.

Dale Koth:
Yeah. Then I finished up at Terra Linda and that's where I retired.

Anthony Godfrey:
So did you retire in the early 2000s?

Dale Koth:
No. Kind of in the late-- oh, yes, it's the late 1990s.

Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, OK.

Dale Koth:
You might say, yeah.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah. Wow. All right. Well, so you've been enjoying retirement. But is this an exciting addition to your retirement routine?

Dale Koth:
Yeah, I think it's great. You know, you have a good successful experience here for you and for the kids. And you know, you're doing something.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah.

Dale Koth:
And I really like it.

Anthony Godfrey:
Good. How many times have you been?

Dale Koth:
This is my second time.

Anthony Godfrey:
What did you love most about teaching?

Dale Koth:
Just watching kids progress, learn something.

Anthony Godfrey:
In elementary, you get to see a lot of that.

Dale Koth:
Oh, yes. There was a lot of it.

Anthony Godfrey:
What grades did you teach most?

Dale Koth:
Third grade.

Anthony Godfrey:
Third grade. That's a big one.

Dale Koth:
Which was my favorite grade.

Anthony Godfrey:
Third was the favorite.

Dale Koth:
That was the age when they start cursive writing.

Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, yeah.

Dale Koth:
I don't know if they still-- do they still do cursive writing?

Anthony Godfrey:
It's more-- not like they used to. Let me put it that way. Not like they used to.

Dale Koth:
If you had your way.

Anthony Godfrey:
Not that weird Q that looks like a 2. No, we don't do that stuff anymore.

Dale Koth:
OK. Yeah. Also, they learn their multiplication facts.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah.

Dale Koth:
And you could just get into reading, and like what somebody told me, the kids can be smart at that age without being a smart aleck.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah, that's right. Absolutely. Well, I really appreciate your coming and just getting to watch you with the students. It's really fun to see how much you get their attention right away.

Dale Koth:
Yeah.

Anthony Godfrey:
And they stay focused when they're reading with you. So thank you for doing that.

Dale Koth:
That's great. What's your name?

Anthony Godfrey:
I'm Dr. Godfrey. I'm Anthony Godfrey. I'm the superintendent for Jordan School District.

Dale Koth:
You're the superintendent?

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah.

Dale Koth:
I've worked here a long time, but I don't think I've ever met the superintendent.

Anthony Godfrey:
Well, it's very nice to meet you.

Dale Koth:
I forget names a lot.

Anthony Godfrey:
Barry Newbold?

Dale Koth:
Barry Newbold. I knew Barry Newbold, yes.

Anthony Godfrey:
It's very nice meeting you.

Dale Koth:
Well, nice meeting you

Anthony Godfrey:
And thanks for doing this. We look forward to seeing you back next month.

Volunteer:
Well, great. I'll be back. I'll be back.

Anthony Godfrey:
We're talking now with Principal Jennifer Ludlow about the program here at Oquirrh Elementary. I know it's new. What do you think so far?

Jennifer Ludlow:
I love it. It's like my favorite thing and I just grin from ear to ear the hour before they come and about two hours after. Awesome.

Anthony Godfrey:
There's a great immediate connect with the kids and these volunteers.

Jennifer Ludlow:
Yes.

Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me about how the kids have reacted to this.

Jennifer Ludlow:
Oh, they get so excited. And then we had different kids this month than last month and some of them were like, “we wanted to go back. That was so fun.” They love it and they just love opportunities to read with kids or read with somebody else and get some practice. So far, it's been really positive.

Anthony Godfrey:
Having a new audience when you're reading out loud, so I'm going to try to impress. It really puts you on the spot, but it also puts you at your best. It helps you really be focused.

Jennifer Ludlow:
So yeah. And we know kids learn to read through repetition and practice and so what a great opportunity for them to practice with somebody with a lot of wisdom and experience. And we love it. It's so great.

Anthony Godfrey:
Add some novelty to the day and another human connection, another adult rooting for them.

Jennifer Ludlow:
Exactly. Someone else on their team.

Anthony Godfrey:
Well, it's another great thing happening at Oquirrh Elementary. Thank you very much for letting us be here today.

Jennifer Ludlow:
Thank you. It was a pleasure.

Anthony Godfrey:
We're now talking with a member of the PTA and the School Community Council. Introduce yourself and tell us how you got this idea.

Alicia Abbott:
My name is Alicia Abbott. I am on the Community Council at Oquirrh Elementary, also on the PTA board. So we were reviewing the stats of the school last year, and it hurt my heart to see how many kids are not reading and are not doing math. And it hurt my soul. Like literally, I couldn't handle it. And our school is amazing. I don't want to diss on our school. Our school is awesome and I love Principal Ludlow. She's amazing, and our teachers and the community here is awesome.

Anthony Godfrey:
And tell me, what's the impact that you have seen for the seniors and for the students doing this? I know it's only been a month.

Alicia Abbott:
Oh, I'm not sure I've seen an impact yet, but I feel an energy and a love of the seniors for the community here. And the impact on these kids is going to be life-changing. They are literally changing lives and the direction of the lives that these kids are stuck in, they are going to be helping them for generations, really. If you help a child, you help a generation. So I'm so excited about it.

Anthony Godfrey:
I think it's very meaningful when someone from the community spends time. They know their teacher has to. They know their parents have to. But when someone's choosing to volunteer and come in and be a part of their lives, I think that's a big boost to students, even beyond literacy.

Alicia Abbott:
Well, I have kids. I wouldn't be OK if my kids couldn't read either. So you know what? We got to put in. If we have parents working three or four jobs just to try to put food on the family table, they need help.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah, absolutely. Well, thank you for being a big part of that help and bringing this idea. I'm excited to see the impact that it has over the years.

Alicia Abbott:
Thank you.

Anthony Godfrey:
Stay with us when we come back. More with the seniors and students of Oquirrh Elementary School.

Male Voice:
Never miss an episode of The Supercast by liking and subscribing on your favorite podcasting platform. Find transcripts for this episode and others at supercast.jordandistrict.org.

Sandy Riesgraf:
Hello, I'm Sandy Riesgraf, Director of Communications for Jordan School District and we want to invite you to connect with us. So many exciting things are happening in your child's school, your neighbor's school, in every school here every day. Don't miss out on following the fun or simply staying informed when there's important information we need to share. Join us at jordandistrict.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @ Jordan District. We can't wait to connect.

Anthony Godfrey:
We're now talking with a first-grade teacher. Please introduce yourself.

Teacher:
Hi, I'm Anashele. I'm a first-grade teacher at Oquirrh Elementary. One of my students came back in with a huge smile on her face. I asked her how Golden Hour was and she said that it was so much fun. She loves reading with the grandmas and grandpas. She was reading a book about pets and she said that it was so much fun because books help her learn. They make her brain grow every day and she loves to read because she has so much fun doing it. Really seeing them learn to read is my favorite thing because they walk in the door at the beginning of first grade really not knowing how to read. And now I have students like the student going to Golden Hour and reading her own story about pets. So I love seeing that growth throughout the year.

Anthony Godfrey:
Thank you very much. It's great to be here talking with you. We're here talking with another one of our volunteers today.

Collette Craig:
Collette Craig.

Anthony Godfrey:
Collette. Now I understand Collette, that you used to be a teacher.

Collette Craig:
Yes.

Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me about your teaching career.

Collette Craig:
I was a cluster teacher.

Anthony Godfrey:
Where was that?

Collette Craig:
Clusters were east side and then west side. I taught at, I think, nine different elementaries.

Anthony Godfrey:
What district were you in?

Collette Craig:
Jordan.

Anthony Godfrey:
In Jordan District. What were some of the schools where you worked?

Collette Craig:
Let's see. Midvale.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah.

Collette Craig:
Sandy. Then they went west to Terra LInda, but not at the same time.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah.

Collette Craig:
And Monte Vista, Heartland.

Anthony Godfrey:
Wow. You really did cover a lot of area.

Collette Craig:
Oh, yeah.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah.

Collette Craig:
If you know culture history, it was all east side at first.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah.

Collette Craig:
And then they opened up west side.

Anthony Godfrey:
Right. What years were you teaching? When did you start and when did you finish?

Collette Craig:
1985, I think.

Anthony Godfrey:
Is that when you started?

Collette Craig:
Uh-huh.

Anthony Godfrey:
And when did you finish?

Coll:
I finished in 20 years later.

Anthony Godfrey:
20 years later? OK. 2005. OK. Very good. And 20 years later, you're back volunteering, reading with students.

Collette Craig:
Yeah.

Anthony Godfrey:
How has that been? Tell me about that experience.

Collette Craig:
This is my first time. It's been good. I didn't know what to expect, but it's been good.

Anthony Godfrey:
Good. Tell me about the students you've worked with so far today.

Collette Craig:
Oh, they're great. They're cute. Yeah, they're great. What else can I say? The pH sound is really hard for them to grasp.

Anthony Godfrey:
The pH sound. Hey, it doesn't make sense. Why does pH sound the way it does? No one will ever know. What did you like most about teaching?

Collette Craig:
I liked it when they got something. When they finally understood something. You had spent weeks, sometimes months on the same thing, and they finally got it. It's like, yay.

Anthony Godfrey:
It's rewarding. It's rewarding. Well, you're helping do that again, so thank you.

Collette Craig:
You're welcome.

Anthony Godfrey:
We're talking now with the activities director from Sunridge Assisted Living and Memory Care. Thank you for talking with us today. Introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about what's happening.

Diana:
My name is Diana. I'm working in the center for eight years and we have a purpose to have activities with purpose. So this activity is amazing for our residents because they find their friendship. They have a purpose in life, teaching kids. Also, that bring memories to them. We have some teachers participating in the activity, and that is amazing for them. They really enjoy it. The first time when we came, they came back telling the other residents, “that was so fun. We teach kids. That was amazing.” So we want to back. And today, when we back, other friends came with them. So that is amazing. They found a purpose coming here.

Anthony Godfrey:
Tell us more about the facility.

Diana:
OK. Our community has two areas. One is for memory care. The other one is for assisted living. We have seniors with some difficult to walk or to get medicine. So we assist them to get the most normal life like they knew it. So part of that and really important part of the life is to have activities. So we have activities every day from Monday to Sunday and we have our clubs. We have sewing clubs, cooking clubs. We have outings. We go one time a month to a different restaurant. Each week, we go to Walmart or to Smith's to do shopping. We have also assisted shopping. So we have volunteers to come with them and assist them to get whatever they want in the store. So that is part of the normal life like everyone knows. We have different things to make them feel like this, “I feel happy today.” And that is our purpose, to have them happy, to have them participating in every activity we have. And that is my satisfaction to see them when they are happy. And when I came with them last time, I saw their happiness in the faces. And it's just like a miracle to see them, how they share with the kids, and the kids accepting them. And it's like a miracle. Miracle happen.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah, wonderful. Well, thank you very much for making us a part of those activities and a part of the lives of these seniors.

Diana:
It's a pleasure. Thank you to let us participate in this program too.

Anthony Godfrey:
Thanks for joining us on another episode of the Supercast. Remember, “Education is the most important thing you will do today.” We'll see you out there.

Anthony Godfrey:
You are the first in Jordan School District.

Jackson Spencer:
I think it's pretty awesome just to be able to bring another level of excellence into this school district.

Anthony Godfrey:
How much do you run in a week?

Jackson Spencer:
In a week, at this point, probably around 50. Fifty miles a week.

Anthony Godfrey:
Fifty miles a week.

Jackson Spencer:
Yeah. I just like the feeling of pushing that body to the fastest limits.

Anthony Godfrey
Hello and welcome to The Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. You could say he was born to run with a high school career in cross country that is hard to beat. On this episode of The Supercast, meet Herriman High School's Jackson Spencer, who was recently named the National Gatorade Player of the Year in Boys Cross Country. Find out what sets Spencer apart from others in his sport, and how his love for running is paving a path for future success, quite possibly in the Olympics.

Anthony Godfrey
We are here today at Herriman High School talking with Jackson Spencer, the Gatorade National Boys Cross Country Player of the Year. Jackson, thanks for taking a few minutes to talk with us.

Jackson Spencer:
Of course, yeah. Thanks for having me.

Anthony Godfrey
Tell me what it feels like to be the National Gatorade Player of the Year. You are the first in Jordan School District.

Jackson Spencer:
I think it's pretty awesome just to be able to bring another level of excellence into this school district, and to be able to set the bar just a little bit higher.

Anthony Godfrey:
Now, you had a race just this last weekend where you conquered once again. Talk to us about that.

Jackson Spencer:
Yeah, it was super fun. I was up against a lot of good competition from Utah and Idaho, and it's at the Simplot Games, which I really like. But yeah, it was kind of a race for me to just see back into what fitness I was in. I think it actually went really nicely, way better than I expected, so it went well.

Anthony Godfrey:
So how did it go better? Just ultimate time? I know with cross country it's always about the course and the course conditions, and the competition and all of that. Talk us through the race a little bit.

Jackson Spencer:
The time, I think it's more about time on the track. Yeah, I put down a consistent solid effort, and I was able to go out and hold it, which I'm really happy about. I got a really good time better than what I was expecting.

Anthony Godfrey:
Could you see the people behind you coming in second, or how far ahead? What were you?

Jackson Spencer:
Well, after I finished, I looked back and saw them coming in.

Anthony Godfrey:
So you had a good little distance between you and the next kids down the road. What do you do to prepare for a race? What do you do to be at your best and be ready to go?

Jackson Spencer:
I'll make sure to get a really good night's sleep for 9 to 10 hours, and then I'll make sure I eat. I always eat oatmeal, and then I'll do this thing that I'll drink. It's called beetroot powder. I drink that, and it's better. It's good for oxygen consumption in the blood.

Anthony Godfrey:
Beetroot powder?

Jackson Spencer:
Yeah, beetroot powder. Its got lots of nitrates.

Anthony Godfrey:
I've seen the Tik Tok videos, but you're much more persuasive. So you do beetroot powder, oatmeal, and 9 to 10 hours of sleep. Is it ever hard to make sure you get that sleep if you're anticipating a race and thinking it through, or are you well trained at getting good rest as well?

Jackson Spencer:
I've been to a few of these races, but there's definitely some times when it's just I get too excited to go to sleep, but most of the time I can get some good rest. After that, I will eat my lunch, and then I've got my race.

Anthony Godfrey:
Now, the Gatorade Award, does that include having blue Gatorade dumped on top of you when I give you the trophy?

Jackson Spencer:
I'm really glad that they didn't do that.

Anthony Godfrey:
Well, you probably could have run very quickly and gotten away from them after trying to do that. Tell me about receiving the award. You received it from an Olympic runner.

Jackson Spencer:
Yeah, Grant Fisher. I think, if I'm not mistaken, he held a world record in the 3K, which is really cool. Or it might have been the 2-mile.

Anthony Godfrey:
You have your eye on the Olympics, I assume.

Jackson Spencer:
Of course.

Anthony Godfrey:
And talk to us about the timeline for that. How will that work for you?

Jackson Spencer:
Yeah. So I'm going to be going on a mission after I graduate high school. So yeah, that'll be two years. And then the first Olympic cycle, there'll be an Olympic cycle literally right off of my mission, which I don't think I'll make just because I'll be on a lack of training and of experience as well.

Anthony Godfrey:
I mean, if you stay with your companion, you can only run as fast as he can run. So that's going to slow you down significantly.

Jackson Spencer:
A little bit.

Anthony Godfrey:
So there will be the opportunity right after your mission, potentially.

Jackson Spencer:
And then there's the way more realistic opportunity right after college four years later. I think that's 2032 Olympics. Yeah, I'm going to be shooting for those ones. That'll be right after I graduate college.

Anthony Godfrey:
And age-wise and timing-wise, is that about the right time for you to be competing?

Jackson Spencer:
Yeah, I think I'd be 24.

Anthony Godfrey:
So for those runners out there, talk to me about the different events that you compete in with track and with cross-country and the different distances and where you're really at your best.

Jackson Spencer:
So I can do a lot of different distances, or at least I've done a lot of different distances, anywhere from like the 400 all the way up to the, I've done the 8K for a race so far. So I'll start small, like the 400, that's a sprint event. That's one lap around the track. I only do it usually in relays when my team needs me. 48.6 for that. I got the 800, that one is, that's a two-lap race. It's a sprint, but it's like really a hard to maintain sprint. So yeah, you get two, I already said that, two laps on the track. And then I usually do that one for some open and then also lots of relays. And then my time for that is 149.9. Then I got the mile or like the 1600. It's more common, 1600 in high school. That's four laps around the track. That's the one where everyone tries to break four. And my time in that right now is four flat.

Anthony Godfrey:
Four flat. So is that your goal to cut it right below four?

Jackson Spencer:
Yeah, sure.

Anthony Godfrey:
Have you ever done that outside of competition?

Jackson Spencer:
Oh no, only in, see, up at altitude it's a lot harder to run that fast. My best time was down at sea level where there's more oxygen in the air to consume. So yeah, I train up here so it's really hard to do such a thing. But we'll see maybe this year.

Anthony Godfrey:
Maybe this year. I like your chances. So being in Utah, the thin air really prepares you so that when you're at sea level, you're at your best.

Jackson Spencer:
Yeah.

Anthony Godfrey:
And so your goal is under four at the 1600. Is 1600 the same as a mile? I

Jackson Spencer:
The mile is about eight meters longer so it's like a second. My best mile is 4:02.

Anthony Godfrey:
Okay. Close.

Jackson Spencer:
Yeah, and then I got the 3200 which is, that's eight laps around the track. That's pretty much like a long-distance event or, yeah, it's long distance to me at least. And then that was...

Anthony Godfrey:
And what's your time for eight laps?

Jackson Spencer:
8:50 that I actually just got at Simplot. That was my personal best.

Anthony Godfrey:
Wow.

Jackson Spencer:
Yeah.

Anthony Godfrey:
And any time you're racing, you're racing against the other people on the track or on the course, but you're also trying for your best time ever, right? Your personal best.

Jackson Spencer:
Yeah, and then, so 5K, I've only done that... Well, on track I've only done that a few times, but my best on the track is 14:15. That's like... I did it on an indoor track so that's actually 25 laps.

Anthony Godfrey:
25 laps?

Jackson Spencer:
On a normal track it's 12 and a half.

Anthony Godfrey:
Okay.

Jackson Spencer:
And then in cross country my best, I did it on the California State course. I did 14:16. I actually took the record.

Anthony Godfrey:
So really it's, am I beating the people that are on the track? Am I earning a personal best and am I breaking the record?

Jackson Spencer:
Yeah.

Anthony Godfrey:
Really you've got a lot of different times you're racing against. I'm getting a little short of breath just listening to these times and listening to these distances. It's pretty incredible. When did you first realize that you were a talented runner?

Jackson Spencer:
I'd say sixth grade when I started out. I did it. I was really small, but I was competing against...

Anthony Godfrey:
Was it like a three-legged race and you're like, "Hey, if we didn't have the sack and this kid tied to me, I think I could do really well."

Jackson Spencer:
No, it was just a normal cross-country race. So, yeah, it was in the middle school from... I lived in Massachusetts at the time, so the middle school was six to eight. I was this little kid going against all these big kids and we had a time trial that was the first day of running. I got seventh on their team. I was like, "I want to stay on this. I want to race varsity." I was super excited to start running.

Anthony Godfrey:
So as a sixth grader, what grade were the other kids you were racing with?

Jackson Spencer:
Anywhere from six to eight, but I think the ones that I was racing were seventh and eighth.

Anthony Godfrey:
So you saw, "Hey, wait a minute. I'm pretty good at this and I want to keep doing it." What do you love most about running?

Jackson Spencer:
I just like the feeling of pushing my body past its limits, honestly. That's my favorite part.

Anthony Godfrey:
How much do you run in a week?

Jackson Spencer:
In a week? At this point, probably around 50 miles a week.

Anthony Godfrey:
50 miles a week?

Jackson Spencer:
Yeah.

Anthony Godfrey:
Does that vary depending on whether you've got a competition? Do you lower that in advance of a competition or how do you pace that out?

Jackson Spencer:
We actually raised it a couple of weeks before the competition. We'll go up to 60, maybe even 70, but then we'll go down the week of the competition to 50 to 40.

Anthony Godfrey:
I never run over 70 miles a week. I always keep it below 70.

Jackson Spencer:
Yeah, that's fair. I've never ran over 70, I don't think.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah, that's my policy as well. Just better for me not to run over 70.

Anthony Godfrey:
Stick around. When we come back, we will talk with cross-country sensation Jackson Spencer about his future plans.

Male Voice:
Never miss an episode of The Supercast by liking and subscribing on your favorite podcasting platform. Find transcripts for this episode and others at supercast.jordandistrict.org.

Sandy Riesgraf:
Hello, I'm Sandy Riesgraf, Director of Communications for Jordan School District, and we want to invite you to connect with us. So many exciting things are happening in your child's school, your neighbor's school, in every school here every day. Don't miss out on following the fun or simply staying informed when there's important information we need to share. Join us at jordandistrict.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @jordandistrict. We can't wait to connect.

Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me what you prefer. You've got outdoor cross-country courses, indoor track, outdoor track. Where do you really enjoy running the most?

Jackson Spencer:
It's a mix up between indoor and outdoor. Or no, not indoor and cross-country Yeah, I really, really like cross-country just because of the freeness you get while running on the cross-country course. And then I also really like indoor track because it's got such a big ambiance. Everyone's yelling at you and it's so loud and it's just so fun to run through it.

Anthony Godfrey:
Does that impact your running when you know people are cheering for you and you can hear them in the background?

Jackson Spencer:
Yeah, if you're on the verge of a record and you hear people cheering for you, it just makes it so much easier to go and makes it so much more motivating to go after it.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah, that's exciting. Tell me about your parents, how, either of them runners or...

Jackson Spencer:
No, but my dad was a really good swimmer in high school. I think he only did it his freshman year or maybe his sophomore year, but he really enjoyed it just because he liked swimming. He was always really good in the time trials as well. He was one of the top guys on the team as a freshman. And then he moved and his new swimmers weren't so nice to him, so he kind of stopped that. But then, yeah, I think he's able to see what he could have done through me, so it's really cool.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah, that's exciting. And you have to get up a lot earlier as a swimmer than you do as a runner. What's your routine? Do you run in the morning and evening or how does that work?

Jackson Spencer:
Yeah, I do run twice a day usually. I'll wake up at around seven-ish to go run and then I'll go to school and then I'll come back and then run at three.

Anthony Godfrey:
I understand that you have a scholarship to Brigham Young University coming up. What made you choose Brigham Young?

Jackson Spencer:
Well, first of all, I was actually born in Provo, so yeah, that's kind of my hometown college. They have a really good coach and a really good program and lots of good kids going there.

Anthony Godfrey:
I hear they're top ten a lot of the time.

Jackson Spencer:
Oh, yeah, definitely up there.

Anthony Godfrey:
And you know and like the coach?

Jackson Spencer:
Yeah, Eyestone is a great guy.

Anthony Godfrey:
I'm sure he's very excited to have you come.

Jackson Spencer:
Yeah, I hope so.

Anthony Godfrey:
And so you have BYU coming up, Olympic ambitions. What does the rest of the year hold for you?

Jackson Spencer:
In terms of like racing?

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah.

Jackson Spencer:
I should be at, so my next race will be New Balance Indoor Nationals. And then, yeah, I'll do the 5K there and then I'll do my big races. It'll probably be Arcadia Invite. I'll probably do the 3200 there and then the Portland Jesuit Nike invite. I don't know what it's called, but that's kind of what it's called. And then I'll try to break four in a mile there if that's what Coach will let me do. And then, yeah, I think my next big one will be New Balance Outdoor Nationals. So those are kind of my big meets that I'll be going to.

Anthony Godfrey:
On top of all that, you have a high GPA. School's going great. It's very impressive that you're able to juggle everything and keep everything going.

Jackson Spencer:
Yeah, thanks.

Anthony Godfrey:
What kind of career are you looking at?

Jackson Spencer:
I'm really interested in architecture, actually. So I think it's really neat to... Ever since I was a little kid, I always found it neat to see how houses were built and how they were designed. And that's just kind of been my passion. So even though it's kind of hard work, I'll try and pursue it.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah, that's great. That's exciting. And you'll get to drive by and say, "I helped build that. I designed that." Well, we're thrilled to have you in Jordan and really proud of your success and I can't wait to see what comes next. So thank you very much for taking time with us. I know you've got to run. Okay, I just had to say that. And get to class. But we really appreciate your time. And like I said, very proud of all your accomplishments. Keep up the great work.

Jackson Spencer:
Of course. Thank you.

Anthony Godfrey:
Thanks for joining us on another episode of the Supercast. Remember, “Education is the most important thing you will do today.” We'll see you out there.

Jennifer Ballard:
I've taught for 12 or 13 years now and this has been the biggest breakthrough with kids' reading.

Student:
I like at the end when they feel so like accomplished of finishing a book or something.

Jennifer Ballard:
The kids all take care of each other better. They look out for each other.

Student:
And I love to see how much they improve throughout the year.

Student:
Sometimes when they're like with a friend, they like point at you and say, "Oh my gosh I know him!"

Anthony Godfrey:
Hello and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. Something really cool is happening in classrooms at Oak Leaf Elementary School these days. Older students are stepping up and leading by example, proving to everyone that life is better with books. On this episode of the Supercast, meet some sixth graders who are taking their love for literacy to the kindergarten classroom. They are reading with younger students as part of the Planet Kindergarten literacy program.

Anthony Godfrey:
We're here at Oak Leaf Elementary School talking with Jennifer Ballard, one of the kindergarten teachers. Talk to us a little bit about this program of having sixth graders read with kindergartners.

Jennifer Ballard:
So this year we started doing Planet Kindergarten that was a pretty cool idea and concept from the Jordan School District literacy department, specifically the kindergarten specialists. And at first we were a little bit nervous because it's a big undertaking, but the program that they've set out is incredible. And we have so many of our students, almost a hundred percent, that have mastered all their letters and sounds, and they did that by November 1st.

Anthony Godfrey:
And all their letters and sounds by November 1st is really a benchmark where we say if you can get there before November, then it really sets you on a good path for the rest of the year.

Jennifer Ballard:
Absolutely. We are learning how to read and write CVC words, blends, and digraphs and we can't do any of that without knowing our letters and sounds.

Anthony Godfrey:
Describe what it looks like when sixth graders are helping kindergartners reach this goal because Planet Kindergarten is something that's happening in elementary schools throughout Jordan School District, but this is the first I've heard of sixth graders being involved in helping kindergartners reach that goal. So tell me what that looks like.

Jennifer Ballard:
So we have a couple time slots through the day that we have students coming down to read with our kindergartners and it is almost all sixth graders, but we do actually have students as young as third grade coming to help our kids read. And so the student council has really taken on the biggest piece of it and they come every day before lunch. At the beginning it was just practicing letters, and kids would go out in the hall with letter flashcards, they would learn letters and their sounds, and as they passed those off, they advanced into reading whole words and then reading in decodable text, which is amazing.

Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me, so do the sixth graders feel the sense of accomplishment as well? I assume that they do, and the student they're working with has a breakthrough.

Jennifer Ballard:
They do. It's really cute because they'll come in afterwards and I won't ask them for feedback on how the kids did, but I have several sixth graders come back to me and say, “Oh my gosh, they're getting so good at this” and they're so proud of them and really all the grades that come to help with them just feel really excited. I've even had several come back and tell me that that's their favorite part of the day is coming to read with our kindergarten students.

Anthony Godfrey:
So third through sixth graders coming to read with the kindergartners, how does that change the motivation for kindergartners? How long have you been teaching and what difference have you seen from years where you haven't had those older students helping?

Jennifer Ballard:
I feel like this year was monumental with that. I've never seen collective efficacy on such a grand scale before where we all had this goal, and it wasn't just teachers having a goal for kids, but the kids had the goal themselves, and now other kids have that goal for them. So we would announce that on Morning News. We talked about it a lot, and everybody just got excited about it. I've taught for 12 or 13 years. I've lost track but 12 or 13 years now and this has been the biggest breakthrough with kids reading.

Anthony Godfrey:
I assume that this is something that will continue for a long time now that you've seen the results.

Jennifer Ballard:
Yes, it absolutely will continue, and we're planning to keep it going all through the rest of this year, not just ending at letters and sounds but with reading books.

Anthony Godfrey:
What has the social impact been on just the culture of the school, with having older students involved with the younger students, because there's a lot of separation in elementary school? You don't always run into each other. You have separate playgrounds, separate lunchtimes. What has it done for unifying the school?

Jennifer Ballard:
I feel like the kids all take care of each other better. They look out for each other. I have little ones on the way to rotations, but the big kids will come and give them high fives and hugs, and they know their names. That's really cute, and when we take them out to the bus area, we get a little nervous to leave our kindergartners, but these big kids they just love them, and they've got them, and they take really good care of them.

Anthony Godfrey:
So there's a sense of belonging in both directions. The younger students have third through sixth graders to look up to and connect with, and the sixth and third graders, sixth through third graders feel this sense of responsibility to the younger students, it sounds like. I think this is tremendous. I think it's amazing.

Jennifer Ballard:
Yeah, it's been a really awesome thing at our school, and I feel like our school has always been really well connected, but this has connected us even more, and it's really cool to see the oldest kids looking out for the youngest ones and wanting them to be successful.

Anthony Godfrey:
Where did the idea come from? Where did this start?

Jennifer Ballard:
We were trying to decide in PLCs how to go about this goal because it did seem like a lofty goal and we knew we could attain it but we needed the right resources. So I believe it was our assistant principal Toni Lasater who had the idea and then we all talked about all the admin, our coach, the whole kindergarten team and it really just kind of steamrolled from, “well maybe it could be the student council that comes to read with them,” and then it evolved into, “well I bet even other grades would want to come read,” and soon enough teachers were telling us their kids were really working hard to come read with kindergarten.

Anthony Godfrey:
Did they need to earn that by working in their own class and making sure they're caught up before they could step away to help kindergartners?

Jennifer Ballard:
Yes, some teachers did use it as incentive. If they did a good job in class and got all their work done and if they were respectful and kind, then they got to come read with the kids.

Anthony Godfrey:
What a cool idea. Well, congratulations on a great program and a huge impact and I'm excited to see where this goes.

Jennifer Ballard:
We're really grateful for all the support from our whole staff because it does take time from upper grades. I know they have a lot of academics they need to cover, but we, as kindergarten teachers, are especially grateful to everyone who has helped out other teachers, aides, parents. It's been all-encompassing at our school.

Anthony Godfrey:
And everyone will benefit as those kindergartners who have the help of older students come up through the grades.

Jennifer Ballard:
Yes absolutely.

Anthony Godfrey:
It's going to have a cumulative ongoing effect, so thank you.

Anthony Godfrey:
Stay with us. When we come back a conversation with the sixth-grade students who really are book ambassadors.

Male Voice:
Never miss an episode of the Supercast by liking and subscribing on your favorite podcasting platform. Find transcripts for this episode and others at supercast.jordandistrict.org.

Female Voice:
Does your child need the flexibility to learn from anywhere at any time, on a cruise in another country, or simply at home cozy on the couch? The Jordan Virtual Learning Academy is tailor-made for you and your family. It's personalized dynamic virtual learning on your schedule. The Jordan Virtual Learning Academy is an integrated system of three schools in Jordan School District. Rocky Peak Virtual Elementary School, Kelsey Peak Virtual Middle School, and King's Peak High School. Our programs are designed to meet or exceed district and state core curriculum standards, ensuring your child receives a superior educational experience tailored to their needs. Join us today at jordanvirtual.org.

Anthony Godfrey:
We're talking now with the student council at Oak Leaf Elementary about their experience helping kindergartners reach their reading goals. Tell me your name and tell me what you loved most about reading with kindergartners.

Student:
My name is Sadie Mills and I like, because the kindergartners are always so happy and energetic.

Anthony Godfrey:
Have you lost that now in sixth grade?

Student:
It's really fun because they're just little.

Student:
I'm a Stacey Lucero and I love to see how much they improve throughout the year.

Student:
I'm Addie Bennett and I like to see all their happy faces and get to know each one of them better.

Student:
I'm Sadie Fichelos and I like at the end when they feel so like accomplished of finishing a book or something.

Student:
I'm Hayden Sandovich and I like it because we're preparing their future.

Student:
I'm Lydia Smith and I really like to like get excited for them when they finish their words or like letters.

Student:
I'm Stockton Robbins and I like when like it's like we get built-in friends kind of and we get to relate or we get to spend time with our kindergartners.

Student:
I'm Michael Sandoval and my favorite part is when they do a good job, you give them a high five, and they're just smiling. It's awesome.

Student:
My name is Cameron McBride and my favorite part is probably what I hear that their favorite part of the day is to come see us.

Student:
I'm Zae Vyric and I love to see their little cute faces.

Student:
I'm Ryker Bayless and I love seeing how independent they've become on reading.

Anthony Godfrey:
I heard that they now recognize you they see you in the hall and they kind of wave like, “oh I'm cool. I kind of know one of the older kids.” Tell me about that.

Student:
So the other day I was at the playground and a kindergartner came up to me and gave me the biggest hug and said, “thank you so much for helping me.”

Anthony Godfrey:
That's awesome. I love that.

Student:
I think it can be kind of the same thing but for us knowing the kindergartners. I've recognized a few of the kindergartners that I relate with so I just hope that they recognize me too.

Student:
I don't know I think it's just pretty cool to just walk down the hall and see him like come over and smile and like sometimes when they're like with a friend they like point at you and say, “oh my gosh, I know him.” It's so cool.

Anthony Godfrey:
You guys are celebrities.

Student:
Well I have a little kindergartner who's my neighbor and from this she now recognizes me and whenever I see her out and about she always comes up and hugs me.

Anthony Godfrey:
So now she says hello to you in the wild outside of the school. Now are all you guys in sixth grade?

Student:
Yes.

Anthony Godfrey:
They're gonna miss you next year big time. You'll have to come back and see the first graders how much they've grown up, right? And next year you're going to be seventh graders so you'll be basically the kindergartners of middle school so you'll hope that the ninth graders are saying hi to you. Tell me, did you know very many kindergartners before this before you participated in this program?

Student:
Not really. Well I really only like from last year, I knew my little sister and a few other kids because she was in kindergarten. So were her friends, but I've really not known a lot like kindergartners.

Student:
Um, I knew a couple because they're some of my friends’ little brothers and sisters.

Student:
I didn't really know any kindergartners and it was like kind of like scary going in you're like, “oh, I gotta like help the kindergartners,” and I didn't know how to help but it's like they know their words and like it's fun seeing them in the halls and be like, “oh I know them” and like yeah.

Anthony Godfrey:
So tell me what do you love most about either Oak Leaf or being in sixth grade?

Student:
So about Oak Leaf, at my old school we used to always have corn dogs for lunch. Like always, yeah, so this is a big improvement for lunch.

Anthony Godfrey:
And what's your favorite improvement at lunch? Orange chicken?

Student:
No, I like the macaroni they have.

Anthony Godfrey:
The macaroni okay. So do I.

Student:
It's very good.

Student:
Um I like to be in sixth grade because I feel like I get a lot of more opportunities and chances and I feel more like independent.

Anthony Godfrey:
Okay.

Student:
One thing about Oak Leaf was that at my old school um, I didn't know anyone. Like I didn't know any of the staff. I didn't know anybody in my class, but I now feel like we've been like engaging and I know everyone here.

Anthony Godfrey:
You're a part of things.

Student:
Um-hum.

Student:
I also feel the same as Addie like at my old school, I didn't really like know anyone. It felt like I was just trying to like make it through the day. But then now it feels like people are trying to like be inclusive of each other and the staff trying to like get to know you and people are trying to make the most of their day and like when you all do that, it kind of feels like you're like a family.

Student:
It's fun because you really get to know more of the teachers and staff and it just makes it like fun to come to school. The lunch choices are amazing and the teachers are great and just everything that it's awesome.

Anthony Godfrey:
That's fantastic! I love hearing that.

Student:
Um in Oak Leaf it's like super fun, especially since like I was mostly home-schooled, and so when I came back to school, it was honestly really refreshing because everyone's just super nice and really welcoming.

Student:
I love Oak Leaf because we're all so close together, and our PTA and staff go above and beyond for us. They will do whatever it takes for us to be happy.

Anthony Godfrey:
I can't see your principal right now, but I bet she's smiling back there.

Student:
I like Oak Leaf because in my old private school, we had to bring home lunches, and so big improvement to have a warm lunch.

Anthony Godfrey:
Okay.

Student:
One thing I really love about sixth grade is just being a part of student council. I love helping the younger grades, planning events like assemblies, family nights, and I love it.

Student:
I love Oak Leaf because everybody's a lot more loving. You get to know a lot more people here.

Student:
I don't know about the rest of my student council but how about Miss Hoffman and Miss Lasater? They're amazing they're always so welcoming, they always love to take in our ideas of student council and always just try to make us feel at home, which I know when I come here, I never want to go home.

Anthony Godfrey:
That's wonderful that's so exciting to hear how much you love your school and how much of a positive impact you're having here. What a wonderful job you're doing of making kindergartners feel connected and really making the whole school a place where people want to be. Thank you very much for taking time to talk with me today, and thanks for everything you're doing to help support kindergartners and the rest of the school. Have a great rest of the school year.

Students:
Thank you!

Anthony Godfrey:
Thanks for joining us on another episode of the Supercast. Remember, “Education is the most important thing you will do today!” We'll see you out there.