Supercast

Stacy Evans:
So we try to help our students figure out what will work best.

Anthony Sandoval:
Support's amazing. It's very, very friendly, open arms, and they're here for you.

Stacy Evans:
Some of them end up doing live classes and are much more successful. Sometimes they do one of the online courses that has video embedded because that's a little easier for them, so we try to match it to the needs.

Anthony Godfrey:
Hello and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. Every year, hundreds of students in Jordan's School District are finding a personal path to success that works specifically for them, whether they are working toward a high school diploma or GED. On this episode of the Supercast, find out how Southpointe Adult High School adapts education to meet individual needs by offering flexible schedules and the kind of learning that's making dreams come true for students 16 years and older who decide to enroll. Listen in and hear just one of many success stories happening at the school's JATC North Campus every single year.

Anthony Godfrey:
We're here at Southpointe High School talking with the principal about this program. Introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about Southpointe.

Stacy Evans:
So I'm Stacy Evans and I am the administrator that's in charge of Southpointe Adult Education Program. Our adult education program is a little bit unique, but there are several of them throughout the state. Our program has options for students to earn a high school diploma. They can either do it by taking and passing the GED test or we also have credit options, so they can fill in the gaps in the transcript they already have and complete that. One of the really neat things about Southpointe is we have lots of different modalities for them to do that. They can work on in-person classes live in the evenings. They can use packet-based content and then test over that to make sure they've learned it. They can also do online options. We have a little bit of variety there. We use Edge Annuity software, but we also have our own in-house courses that we've done in Canvas.

Anthony Godfrey:
It sounds like there's just a wide variety of options that can really match whatever an individual student prefers.

Stacy Evans:
Absolutely. I feel like that's our strength here at Southpointe. In addition, we also have English Language Acquisition courses. And a lot of our students will come in, so it would be newcomers to the country or people who just haven't had an opportunity to learn the language yet. They come to us, we offer four different levels, and so they can start wherever they happen to be. We assess and see where they need to be and then place them. It's a great opportunity for them to learn those English language skills that might be holding them back from other opportunities.

Anthony Godfrey:
How many people would you say you serve overall? How many students in the course of a year? And what percentage are participating online versus in person or a blend? You just give us a sense for how many people participate and in what ways?

Stacy Evans:
So it's typically about 1,500 students a year that enroll with us at various times.

Anthony Godfrey:
It is a lot.

Stacy Evans:
It is a lot. And sometimes they come and go. One of the other unique things about an adult education program is that the seasons of people's lives happen. Sometimes they'll work for a time and then they have to leave us for whatever reason. But many of them return and complete it. So they might have multiple enrollments, but they still do it and that's what's important.

Anthony Godfrey:
The flexibility on your part is a key to making sure that people who have things happening in their lives that may be getting in the way still can gain access over time.

Stacy Evans:
Yes, and we try to help our students figure out what will work best. I've had students that were trying to do all of it sort of at home on their own with these packet-based options and things like that. And they weren't being successful and so we talked about, “OK, what's a different way of doing the same thing?” Some of them end up doing live classes and are much more successful. Sometimes they do one of the online courses that has video embedded because that's a little easier for them. So we try to match it to the needs.

Anthony Godfrey:
Good. That's awesome. So 1500 over the course of the year, what does the faculty look like? You have teachers hired who teach elsewhere in the District. Talk to us about what your faculty looks like.

Stacy Evans:
Yes, that's exactly right. So we have one counselor/teacher that is always on staff in our learning center during the days. Then in the evenings we have some teachers who float over and staff the learning center so that students who are working on some of those other types of options that are not in person can come and get help and support when they need it.

Anthony Godfrey:
So float over means they come from the school where they've been teaching by day and then they come over to continue in the evening.

Stacy Evans:
Exactly right. And that's the same thing that happens with our evening live classes. We have those teachers, whether it's the English language learning classes or the high school diploma-based courses. Our teachers, they work in the District all day long and then they come over here and work with adults. And they seldom leave us because they absolutely love working with the adult learners. So it's really a win-win.

Anthony Godfrey:
Everyone here has chosen to be here and has a goal, wants to improve their situation.

Stacy Evans:
Yes, and I think that goal-oriented nature just really makes it a lot of fun to teach them because they really care about what they're trying to do.

Anthony Godfrey:
Now I understand that you have had some students who are doing this much later in life. Is that right?

Stacy Evans:
Absolutely. Our oldest student currently is 84 years old.

Anthony Godfrey:
84 years. It's never too late. I think that's awesome. Talk to me more about her.

Stacy Evans:
Yeah, so she's great. She's been just coming over and taking some courses kind of at a slow pace, just wanting to get some of that done that she didn't get done initially and see if she can't earn that diploma and be a good example. She says she wants to be that example for her grandkids.

Anthony Godfrey:
I love that. That's really cool. I'm sure you have many stories over the years about people who have really had a second chance through this school.

Stacy Evans:
Absolutely. Yeah, we had another student that had come in. She was trying to do her nursing degree, but of course she can't start work on that nursing degree without the high school diploma. So she came to us with a real sense of urgency because it was so important to her to do that. She had children and needed to provide better for her family. And so we got her to the finish line with our diploma and then she went on to her program.

Anthony Godfrey:
Wonderful. What I remember, our completion rate is high. We have a high completion rate compared with the rest of the state. How do we compare?

Stacy Evans:
We do have a higher completion rate. Our students, because of I think the model that we have that's more flexible, it lends itself to students who can't necessarily go to an all-in-person program. And so that gives us the opportunity to help them get there a little more quickly, kind of like Anthony said earlier.

Anthony Godfrey:
So tell me what's the range? What's the shortest time some people spend with us and still earn a diploma? And what's the longest time that you've seen?

Stacy Evans:
That is a great question and I'm not really sure of the answer, honestly. I know that some though, well I could say, I know that some students do come over the summer, especially some of ours who were just seniors in high school, and they will come over to just finish it off because they didn't quite make it. And they'll finish before the end of the summer many times.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah, good. Tell me who qualifies to come to Southpointe?

Stacy Evans:
So anyone 16 years of age and older who is not currently enrolled in a traditional K-12 high school can take part in our high school or GED program. And then for the English Language Acquisition Program, we start at age 18.

Anthony Godfrey:
So that's, if you want to learn English, age 18 is the starting age for that?

Stacy Evans:
Correct. We feel like philosophically it's better for them to stay with their K-12 program because there are a lot more supports that they can have in that program. So we encourage them at age 18 then if they still need to acquire English language, come see us.

Anthony Godfrey:
And for those who are listening, not sitting right here with us, you are located on the Jordan Applied Technology Center campus, which is on the Salt Lake Community College campus at about 9000 South and Bangerter.

Stacy Evans:
That's absolutely right. And we not only take students who live within the Jordan School District boundaries, but as an adult education program in the state of Utah, we all take students from anywhere in the surrounding area.

Anthony Godfrey:
Talk to us about funding sources for Southpointe High School.

Stacy Evans:
So Southpointe Adult High is funded entirely by a grant from the State Board of Education.

Anthony Godfrey:
You and I have talked previously about the value of the program. Tell us about the details of just what's required of a student if they decide they want to sign up.

Stacy Evans:
So when a student first comes to us to enroll, the only fee involved for high school or for GED is $25. And we just charge $25 per quarter, not per course. They can take as many courses as they can get through in that time frame. Then for the English Language Acquisition, they pay $25 per session. There are three sessions during the year and then another $25 textbook fee because we give them a consumable text.

Anthony Godfrey:
So that is a great bargain. $25 a quarter, as many classes as you can manage.

Stacy Evans:
Exactly. And I feel like, you know, that's a great opportunity.

Stacy Evans:
The other thing is, if somebody has a real hardship, we'll talk about it and look at whether that fee might be waivable.

Anthony Godfrey:
We'll include the details in the show notes, but tell us how does someone get signed up and what's the schedule for signing up for Southpointe?

Stacy Evans:
So because we have all those flexible options that can be started at any time, a student can come and sign up and enroll with us at any time for our high school courses or for the GED prep. Then for the English Language Acquisition program, our students come at the beginning of each session. So we have windows of time at the beginning of each of those three sessions. They all run during the regular school year. And the reason we only have three sessions is because what we have found is during those holiday periods of time, from about mid-November to end of, well, beginning of January, we don't, we're not able to get as many of those students coming. I don't know if they're going home to visit loved ones and then returning to us here in Utah, but whatever it is, we try to accommodate the needs and so we don't offer during that time.

Anthony Godfrey:
Great. Talk to me about earning credit for classes that are required for graduation versus the GED route.

Stacy Evans:
Okay. So the GED route is basically a series of tests that students take. And there's one in each of the four core areas of mathematics, language arts, science, and social studies. And so they have to pass each of those tests. So in our program, we give them an online resource that they can learn with. And then we have live sessions with teachers, with licensed teachers. And so during those sessions, they have an opportunity to work on content, ask questions. Sometimes students will work a lot independently and just come and ask their questions during those sessions. And some students will come and try to get as much as they can during the sessions themselves.

Anthony Godfrey:
So you're either preparing for the tests that will allow you to get your GED, or you're taking courses that will fulfill the requirements you are missing in order to receive a diploma.

Stacy Evans:
Exactly. And they receive, when they receive a diploma for earning the credits, they actually earn a Southpointe Adult Education diploma. When they get the GED, they earn a diploma from the State.

Anthony Godfrey:
I see. Okay. Great. Well, I love that we have this option available. And it's been around for a long time, but we've appreciated having your school perspective as well as the administrator over the school here. And one last question. Do you have openings? Because it sounds like a great place to work.

Stacy Evans:
We don't currently have openings, but that does happen from time to time.

Anthony Godfrey:
Like you said, people stay once they come here.

Stacy Evans:
They do stay once they come here. And as far as our staff positions and those openings, those actually get posted in the same way that Jordan School District, all of the schools post.

Anthony Godfrey:
Great. Well, thank you very much. Thanks again for the time and for everything you do to support our community.

Stacy Evans:
Thank you. I appreciate you highlighting Southpointe.

Anthony Godfrey:
Stay with us. When we come back, we'll learn more about Southpointe Adult High 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.

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.

Anthony Godfrey:
We're talking now with one of the students here at Southpointe. Introduce yourself, please.

Anthony Sandoval:
Hi, I'm Anthony Sandoval. I'm one of the students at Southpointe Adult High School.

Anthony Godfrey:
And you work for the District as well. Tell me about your job.

Anthony Sandoval:
I'm a janitor/utility specialist where I work on all sorts of things like fixing light bulbs, cleaning stairs, floors, vacuuming, and all that stuff.

Anthony Godfrey:
So you kind of do whatever needs to be done when you're here. And what shift do you work?

Anthony Sandoval:
From one to five during the summer.

Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me, how is it that you heard about Southpointe and decided to come here?

Anthony Sandoval:
Well, I dropped out of a different program and switched to this program and now I'm getting my stuff done faster here.

Anthony Godfrey:
Talk to me about the support from teachers and from the school and helping you cross the finish line.

Anthony Sandoval:
I would say the support's amazing. It's very, very friendly, open arms, and they're here for you.

Anthony Godfrey:
I understand that you're graduating soon. Is that right? When is that taking place?

Anthony Sandoval:
A rough estimate of  December to January.

Anthony Godfrey:
What stands between you and completion?

Anthony Sandoval:
Math, language arts, and civics.

Anthony Godfrey:
So you've got a few of our core classes remaining?

Anthony Sandoval:
Two credits.

Anthony Godfrey:
Two credits. Okay, great. And how many credits have you already earned at Southpointe?

Anthony Sandoval:
A total of four.

Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, that's awesome.

Anthony Sandoval:
I started at six and now I'm down to two.

Anthony Godfrey:
And do you live in Jordan School District?

Anthony Sandoval:
I live within the boundaries.

Anthony Godfrey:
Okay, awesome. I'm really excited to hear that you're not only an employee but a student as well. How has it felt to be a student at Southpointe?

Anthony Sandoval:
I'd say the experience is very awesome. Everyone's kind, friendly, and if you need help they're here for you.

Anthony Godfrey:
Of the classes you've taken here, what's your favorite?

Anthony Sandoval:
I would have to say history.

Anthony Godfrey:
History?

Student:
And science with Vanessa.

Anthony Godfrey:
Okay, awesome. Is there a type of science or an era of history that you're most interested in?

Anthony Sandoval:
Definitely World War II.

Anthony Godfrey:
World War II.  Yeah, there's a good group of you that are particularly interested in World War II. That's awesome. Great. What would you say to anyone considering whether they ought to come to Southpointe to complete their high school diploma?

Anthony Sandoval:
Just work hard and get your stuff done.

Anthony Godfrey:
And it's worth trying out?

Anthony Sandoval:
It's worth trying out.

Anthony Godfrey:
Okay, great. Well, it's wonderful to meet you, Anthony, and I appreciate you taking the time.

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.

Marty:
We do the electrical repair whatever for over 70 buildings and growing in the school district.

Ian:
We are dealing with over a million square feet of buildings districtwide. Every day is different.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah.

Jake:
There's, you could do the same job and it's not the same as the last one, so.

Anthony Godfrey:
And just as I've been over here, you have great people to work with too.

Jake:
Yeah, there's, yeah maintenance is all great.

Anthony Godfrey:
Hello and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. School may be out for the summer, but there is little to no rest for District crews working hard to make repairs, upgrade facilities, conduct overall maintenance, and basically make schools sparkle and shine for the upcoming school year. On this episode of the Supercast, we talk with employees tackling some monumental tasks over the summer months. Find out about the work they do and how we all benefit when the sun sets on summer and students are back to the books.

Anthony Godfrey:
Alright, we're talking today with Jake out here at Oak Crest Elementary. Jake, tell us a little bit about what you do here in Jordan School District.

Jake:
I do everything with water and drainage.

Anthony Godfrey:
And there's a lot of water and drainage in all of these buildings.

Jake:
Everything runs on water and drainage in these buildings.

Anthony Godfrey:
We're standing in the kindergarten area of the building or the first-grade area where you might remember, those listening, there's a sink in every elementary classroom and so there's a lot of work for folks like Jake to try to prepare us for the year to come. Tell us a little bit about what you've been working on this summer at Oak Crest.

Jake:
At Oak Crest, they replaced all of the countertops in this purple area, and we're just replacing the sink. Took the sinks out and now we're replacing them with new.

Anthony Godfrey:
We were talking a little bit about the new parts. The new parts have less brass than they used to.

Jake:
Very much. Brass is not cheap nowadays so putty's cheaper than brass.

Anthony Godfrey:
So we need to fill the base of the faucet going in to be filled with some putty. I'm the designated putty buddy today so let's get to it. Let's check it out. Alright, we're opening it up here. Pulling out the faucet. Sorry I'm slowing you down here. Nothing helps install a faucet like a superintendent with a microphone. That's right.

Jake:
Oh, you can start warming the putty up.

Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, how do you warm the putty up?

Jake:
I knead it like dough.

Anthony Godfrey:
Knead it like dough. Alright. I'm not good at baking or plumbing, so I'll see what I can do. That's actually quite you know, satisfying.

Jake:
Like one of them one things. Yeah. Squishy.

Anthony Godfrey:
ASMR, you know.

Jake:
Then you pack it in there. This is the part they.

Anthony Godfrey:
Okay.

Jake:
This used to be brass.

Anthony Godfrey:
Do I need to warm it up more or does it seem.

Jake:
Just pack it in there.

Anthony Godfrey:
Pack it right in here?

Jake:
Right over this part here. Yep. Just fill it flush with the. . . .

Anthony Godfrey:
Oh okay. Does it need to go around the . . .

Jake:
Yep.

Anthony Godfrey:
Oh well. That's going to take a little bit of effort isn't it. So how long have, as I'm trying to pack this putty, how long have you worked for Jordan School District?

Jake:
14 years.

Anthony Godfrey:
14 years.

Jake:
Yes.

Anthony Godfrey:
Wow. So you've seen some things.

Jake:
Yes.

Anthony Godfrey:
You've responded to some emergencies.

Jake:
Yes many emergencies.

Anthony Godfrey:
Now when we record these podcasts at elementary schools, it seems like we cannot find a spot where you cannot hear a toilet flushing. It feels like there are bathrooms everywhere you turn.

Jake:
Yes.

Anthony Godfrey:
Does it feel like that? I bet it feels like that to you even more so.

Jake:
Yes there's . . .  I don't even know how many toilets. Never thought of that. There's probably . . .

Anthony Godfrey:
There are a lot of them.

Jake:
Yeah there's too many to count. Lots of things go down toilets especially . . .

Jake:
Yeah lots of things go down toilets, especially in elementary.

Jake:
Probably middle schools.

Anthony Godfrey:
Middle school is worse.

Jake:
Yes.

Anthony Godfrey:
There are probably some people listening who are thinking, “Oh yeah, I remember what I put down the toilet in middle school or elementary school.”

Jake:
We're not going to name what they put down.

Anthony Godfrey:
Fair enough. Fair enough. We don't want to give them any ideas. But yes it does happen. Okay. I've done an initial job with the putty.

Jake:
Oh, let’s get you some more.

Anthony Godfrey:
More putty. I thought I was feeling this false sense of accomplishment here.

Jake:
We're almost done.

Anthony Godfrey:
Okay. All right. More putty. We have Scott Thomas here as well. Scott, talk to us about the way that we rely on our trades to keep the Jordan School District running.

S:
Yeah, thank you. As you know, we're service providers, and we deeply care about our teachers and our students and their well-being and there's just an awful lot to get to. Like I said we have we have well over a million square feet in the school district, and so all of our trades we rely on them to fix everything from air conditioning to, you know, the lights go out, plumbing emergencies, especially this time of year. HVAC is a very important thing in the middle of the summer, and if you don't have any electricity then you know you don't have any HVAC so we rely on them. We're busy our grounds crews are busy during the summer again just thousands of acres worth of schools to take you know school grounds to take care of. So again, a short period of time in the summer about nine weeks to get an awful lot done in preparation for the students and teachers to come back and get back to business.

Jake:
Little more.

Anthony Godfrey:
Okay a little more.

Jake:
Pack it flush.

Anthony Godfrey:
Pack it flush. So I've got like maybe even a little more than flush. Okay, now is the problem that I'm hitting the threads there with it?

Jake:
Nope.

Anthony Godfrey:
Okay all right good I was trying to avoid that that's why it's a little shallow. You know this does give a different sense of accomplishment than writing an email and sending it off. It's like okay the putty is in. It's water the water will flow soon.

Jake:
You want to kind of push out when you—  yeah you want to squish out the sides when you tighten it.

Anthony Godfrey:
Oh okay. Okay, so this is supposed to come out the sides when we tighten it down and kind of produce a seal there.

Jake:
It does.

Anthony Godfrey:
All right.

Jake:
For the sole purpose.

Anthony Godfrey:
All right.

Jake:
You want to do that part?

Anthony Godfrey:
Sure, I'll sling a crescent wrench. Let's see how it goes here. Is it adjusted?

Jake:
It's probably. Yeah it's right where it needs to be.

Anthony Godfrey:
Oh no. I need a little more.

Jake:
I just guessed.

Anthony Godfrey:
Well that's a pretty close guess I'd say. Did you notice that I'm tightening it in the right direction first try?

Jake:
That is good. I'm impressed. You knew what side the cold was on and which way to turn a screw.

Anthony Godfrey:
It's the little wins you know. Now how tight do it?

Jake:
Righty tighty.

Anthony Godfrey:
Righty tighty. How tight do you want it? As tight as I can make it or?

Jake:
Yeah.

Anthony Godfrey:
Okay. We'll make it as tight as I can make it, and then we'll make it as tight as you can make it.

Jake:
I think you're doing great.

Anthony Godfrey:
I think those are going to be different things.

Jake:
I think you should come out every summer.

Anthony Godfrey:
I think I should. This will remind me of all of the very types of work that need to happen for us to be ready for these students to come back. Oh yeah, it's coming out right there in the middle.

Jake:
You haven't flipped it over yet. There's way more.

Anthony Godfrey:
You can. It won't hurt my feelings if you have to tighten that over.

Jake:
You're good. You tightened it good.

Anthony Godfrey:
That feels pretty good. Yeah. All right.

Jake:
Yeah so you just clean that up.

Anthony Godfrey:
Okay. This will provide a lot of post recess drinks. Leak free.

Anthony Godfrey:
Okay.

Jake:
Yep. I think I‘ve got it. Whoops. Oh it didn't stay straight. It was straight. It didn't stay straight.

Jake:
Yeah.

Anthony Godfrey:
I don't want those first graders. I don't want first graders to walk up to the sink and say, “Who did this?”

Jake:
You want to sign it? You can sign underneath it.

Anthony Godfrey:
I'll sign underneath it. Absolutely, I'll sign it. That sounds great.

Jake:
You can grab your marker.

Anthony Godfrey:
Superintendent Godfrey was here and I signed my first name.

Jake:
Should do the year, too.

Anthony Godfrey:
Oh yeah.

Jake:
I'm going to tear this out.

Anthony Godfrey:
Oh yeah. 2026. So when they tear it out they'll say, “Who was that guy?” Nobody will remember.

Jake:
That happens a lot around here.

Anthony Godfrey:
Do you see signatures when you tear stuff out? Really?

Jake:
Oh yeah. I found. Did you see? They found a . . .  what the class of '98 did in West Jordan High.

Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, in West Jordan High.

Jake:
Yeah. Did you see that?

Anthony Godfrey:
We heard about that. A rival school was mentioned. Let's just say that.

Jake:
Yes. Okay. Stuff like that.

Anthony Godfrey:
Thanks for letting me sign.

Jake:
Yeah. No problem.

Anthony Godfrey:
That's really fun. So we're installing something new here. What are some of the other things that you do over the summer?

Jake:
We have a lot of sprinkler mainline breaks. We don't necessarily do the heads, but we do the broken pipes that burst and stuff, and there's never a shortage of them.

Anthony Godfrey:
I'm sure.

Jake:
And summertime. Yeah, a lot of special projects and stuff like this. We have like two schools with this same project going on and bigger stuff. Stuff where kids aren't in is a lot.

Anthony Godfrey:
I'm sure there's stuff you save up for when they're gone.

Jake:
Yes. Correct.

Anthony Godfrey:
And what are some of the emergencies? Are you on call for emergencies?

Jake:
Yep. We're on, each of us take on call for a week long. We had a mainline break out at Foothills this weekend.

Anthony Godfrey:
Oh yeah.

Jake:
One of our guys had to go turn it off.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah.

Jake:
But that's about all. Mostly the summer emergencies are main lines breaking.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah. But with over 70 buildings, there are plenty of main lines that can break.

Jake:
Yes. Yeah we blow them out every year but they still tend to fall apart over time you know.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah.

Jake:
Nothing lasts forever.

Anthony Godfrey:
Right. Thank you for everything you do.

Jake:
And you're welcome.

Anthony Godfrey:
This is important work that allows us to do what we do. And until you walk into an elementary school, you don't realize just how much plumbing is involved.

Jake:
Oh yeah. Yep. There's everything takes plumbing around these places.

Anthony Godfrey:
That's right.

Jake:
Lots of bottle fillers.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah. Lots of bottle fillers.

Jake:
That's right.

Anthony Godfrey:
That's a whole new thing in the last 10 years.

Jake:
Yes. And since COVID everyone wants bottle fillers now.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah. Well, everything changes.

Jake:
They're nice.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah, they're nice but I'll bet they’re work. Tell me what do you like most about working here as a plumber in Jordan School District?

Jake:
Every day is different.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah.

Jake:
There's — you could do the same job and it's not the same as the last one.

Anthony Godfrey:
So just as I've been over here you have great people to work with too.

Jake:
Yeah there's . . .  Yeah maintenance is all great.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah.

Jake:
So I like everyone we work with.

Anthony Godfrey:
Well good. And you know we're always looking for folks and it's a great place to be. So well, thank you, Jake. Thanks for walking me through this.

Anthony Godfrey:
Stay with us. When we come back, we talk with one of the electricians in the District working hard to prepare the building for students to return.

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:
Are you looking for a job right now? Looking to work in a fun and supportive environment with great pay and a rewarding career? Jordan School District is hiring. We're currently filling full and part time positions. You can work and make a difference in young lives and education as a classroom assistant or a substitute teacher. Apply to work in one of our school cafeterias where our lunch staff serves up big smiles with great food every day. We're also looking to hire custodians and bus drivers. In Jordan School District, we like to say people come for the job and enjoy the adventure. Apply today at employment.jordandistrict.org.

Anthony Godfrey:
We're talking today with Marty. Marty, introduce yourself and tell us about your responsibilities here in Jordan School District.

Marty:
Hi, I'm Marty Pixdon. I'm the senior electrical tech for the District. We do electrical repair for over 70 buildings and growing in the school district.

Anthony Godfrey:
Seventy buildings and growing isn't that true. Seventy buildings is a ton to be responsible for. Talk to me about within the trades how many electricians do we have in our District?

Marty:
We have eight in the field and including myself we have a total of nine electricians.

Anthony Godfrey:
A total of nine electricians. You get called night and day to help out with various issues. I know that in an emergency we rely on you guys, but also we rely just day to day to keep things up and running. Talk to us about some of the things you're doing over the summer. A lot of people wonder, “What does everybody do over the summer in a school district?” Talk to us about what the summer looks like for electricians.

Marty:
We do everything from small remodels to bigger repairs, remodels and we also maintenance to keep the building running. There's some stuff we can't get to full access during the school year because the classes so we make major repairs while the kids are away.

Anthony Godfrey:
Summer is a particularly busy time because we finally have clear buildings for you.

Marty:
That is correct.

Anthony Godfrey:
Seventy buildings, Ian tell us. We're here with Ian as well. Introduce yourself and tell us about just how many square feet we're taking care of here in Jordan School District.

Ian:
Hello, this is Ian Roberts, and I'm the director of Facility Services. We are dealing with over a million square feet of buildings District-wide.

Anthony Godfrey:
So anyone out there who has a sense for building maintenance understands that that's a time and it's high stakes when you have five-year-olds to 22-year-olds to preschoolers that we're taking care of and looking out for. There isn't a lot of slack would you say, Ian, when there's an emergency in terms of just electricity, water, making sure that our buildings are running.

Ian:
No definitely not at all and these guys are rock stars. They're here to take care of the put out the fires when they're burning, and they're keeping behind the scenes to make sure these buildings are fully functional for the students and staff.

Anthony Godfrey:
Talk to me, Marty, about your pathway to becoming an electrician in Jordan School District.

Marty:
I started my career right out of high school as an electrician. I've done multiple things for my life been fortunate enough that I've currently hold a master's license in electrical right now. That used to be in two states, but now I let one lapse because I don't want to work in Wyoming ever again.

Anthony Godfrey:
Well, if it lapses then you never have to do that again, right? Talk to me about how long you've been in Jordan School District.

Marty:
I just finished nine years going into my tenth year now.

Anthony Godfrey:
And previous to that what type of work did you do?

Marty:
I've done all types of construction, electrical-wise, from schools all over the state to out of state. I've been doing this for roughly about 46 years now.

Anthony Godfrey:
46 years so you're starting to get the hang of it huh?

Marty:
A little bit.

Anthony Godfrey:
A little bit. Okay. So I have, if my wife is listening to this, she's thinking, “Invite Marty over. We have a few things that we'd love to have Marty take a look at.” Is that one of the downsides of having the skills that you do? Does every neighbor know that you're an electrician and you can help out?

Marty:
Ah, yeah I, they try.

Anthony Godfrey:
They try. Do you have a sudden school emergency when they need help fixing something?

Marty:
I'll help them out if it's serious; if not, I always recommend it to somebody else.

Anthony Godfrey:
Well just look up on the website. You can find Marty's number give him a call. He’d be glad to do a job on the side. What are some of the challenges being an electrician in Jordan School District? We've got buildings that are built 50 years ago and buildings that are built just a year or two ago. Are there all kinds of electrical systems that you have to be familiar with?

Marty:
Very much so. Our field's constantly changing all the time. That and our lighting controls are getting more complicated and more software and stuff like that. They're computer-controlled in a lot of the classrooms nowadays. We have some schools that have up to like five lighting systems in the same school.

Anthony Godfrey:
Five in the same school?

Marty:
Yeah.

Anthony Godfrey:
Wow. We sure appreciate the work that you do and we're grateful you're here in Jordan School District and you're bringing all of these years of experience working on various projects in various states and thank you for all your hard work.

Marty:
Thank you.

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

Mother:
We did the America 250 competition with the Jordan School District. One of the things was doing the Pledge of Allegiance, all the way up to drawing pictures, learning parts of the Declaration of Independence or Constitution, talking about the branches of the government.

Child:
So I wrote a letter to the President of the United States and he wrote back.

Anthony Godfrey:
Hello and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. America is officially celebrating its 250th birthday this summer. And right here in Jordan School District and for families across the country, it is an opportunity to embrace the past and connect with civic opportunities in every community. On this episode of the Supercast, meet one family that is beyond excited to spend this summer celebrating this historic milestone. They participated in Jordan School District's America 250 competition and won the opportunity to travel across the country to learn all they can about America's rich history.

Anthony Godfrey:
We're talking today with the Black family about the way that they are celebrating America's 250th anniversary. Introduce yourselves first off. Thanks for coming today.

Mother:
My name's Joanna Black and I have my four children here with me, the Evangeline Black.  

Child:
My name is Emma Black. I'm in third grade and I like to read.  

Child:
My name's Daniel and I am first grade and I love reading books.  

Child:
I'm Elizabeth and I'm in fifth grade and I love reading.  

Anthony Godfrey:
It sounds like your book budget at your house is significant, is that right?  

Mother:
Yes, well, we actually love going to the library.  

Anthony Godfrey:
Yes.  

Mother:
And so every time we go, we check out the books and it says at the bottom how much we save. It's about $300 every visit.  

Anthony Godfrey:
About 300 every visit. Well, that's fantastic, I love to hear that. Before we dive into everything else, you're a teacher in Jordan School District. Talk to us about that.  

Mother:
Yes, I teach at West Jordan High School. I teach business and concurrent enrollment classes and it's really fun to work with the students to teach them things that they can use in college in the future but also to be good citizens in America.  

Anthony Godfrey:
Speaking of teaching, what have you done to make your family so focused on reading?  

Mother:
Both of my parents were teachers and so it's very important to learn how to read because then you can learn through reading. And so it can always take you further and it can help you experience things in a different way if you read.  

Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me which school you go to.  

Child:
Riverside Elementary.  

Anthony Godfrey:
And what do you love most about Riverside Elementary?  

Child:
I love the people there, my friends. My best friend's name is Daniel and Lily. And I love my teachers there and I think fifth grade's gonna be a really great year.  

Anthony Godfrey:
I think it is too. Daniel, what do you love about Riverside Elementary?  

Child:
Mrs. House.  

Anthony Godfrey:
Was she your kindergarten teacher?  

Child:
Yes.  

Anthony Godfrey:
Wonderful. And what do you love most about Riverside?  

Child:
I like all the people there and how they support me and how they're really nice to me.  

Anthony Godfrey:
We love that. And I love seeing your America 250. You've got your flag tattoo on the back of your hand and you're all dressed in red, white and blue. You are ready to go. I know that your family has been very focused on celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Talk to us about some of the things you've done as a family.  

Mother:
We did multiple things to celebrate. So we did the America 250 competition with the Jordan School District. And each grade had a different set of requirements that they had to complete. So for Daniel and kindergarten, one of the things was doing the Pledge of Allegiance, all the way up to drawing pictures, learning parts of the Declaration of Independence or Constitution, talking about the branches of the government. So each one of them did the requirements and they were part of the award ceremony. And here the Jordan School District, they did an award ceremony in May. And they got to lead the Pledge of Allegiance at that event.  

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah, I was there. It was really exciting. And I just love how you focused on it as a family. So let's talk with each of you about some of the things you've done to celebrate the 250 years of the United States of America. We'll start off with you.  

Child:
So I wrote a letter to the President of the United States and he wrote back.  

Anthony Godfrey:
He wrote back?  

Child:
Yeah.  

Anthony Godfrey:
What did you tell him?  

Child:
I said, thank you for helping this country. And he wrote back saying, thank you.  

Anthony Godfrey:
How did that feel to get a response from the President of the United States?  

Child:
I felt really special that the President wrote to me.  

Anthony Godfrey:
And where did you put that letter?  I

Child:
think it's still with my mom somewhere.  Okay, that's good. That's for safekeeping. That's a good idea. What else have you done besides writing the President?  

Child:
A letter to a military person.  

Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, wonderful. And did they write you back?  

Child:
No.  

Anthony Godfrey:
They're busy. They're busy. They have things going on. So I know you've entered some contests. Tell me about the contests that you've entered.  

Child:
My mom found an art contest through Freedom 250. The requirement was to create an art design and write an essay about one of the 250 American heroes. The essay was supposed to describe who the person is and what they did, and why they are a hero. We learned about the American Revolution in class this year, and I really like the story of Paul Revere. I wanted to do my art design based on Paul Revere's engraving of the Boston Massacre. My drawing was chosen to represent third through fifth grade category in the state of Utah. I won a free trip to Washington, D.C., for a ceremony to see my drawing, which is currently displayed in the American State Fair.  

Anthony Godfrey:
Wow. So your drawing is in the American State Fair, and when do you get to travel to Washington, D.C.? That's a huge prize.  

Child:
July 6th.  

Anthony Godfrey:
July 6th. Wow, fantastic. I think I won a candy bar for a drawing I did in kindergarten. That's the biggest art prize I've ever received. So that's huge. That's really exciting. How did it feel when you found out you get to go to D.C.?  

Child:
I felt like I was really important because I'm like, this is a huge reward, and I worked really hard on it. So I'm like, this is amazing.  

Anthony Godfrey:
Do you have a picture of it you can show me? Okay, let's take a look at -- wow, that's really good. I see the red coats are dominating in this particular moment. That's awesome. What medium did you use? Is this marker and crayon?  

Child:
So my sister actually had like painting markers, and so she let me have some so you can see for like -- I did the gray right here and then some of the black and then the sky and then the windows and the buildings a little bit, yeah.  

Anthony Godfrey:
For those who can't see, can you describe the drawing for me?  

Child:
Yes. So this is the Boston Massacre, and the red coats are smiling and shooting at the colonists while the colonists are getting wounded and throwing things back in the distance.

Anthony Godfrey:
That's very vivid what you'drawn there, and I see the smoke here from the shots and wounded soldiers there. That's a very detailed drawing. Well done. When did you submit the drawing?  

Child:
June 1st.  

Anthony Godfrey:
June 1st. So you found out pretty quickly that you'd won. That's wonderful. And you're one of just several -- two or three students in the state who have won this trip and get to be honored in Washington, D.C.  

Child:
There’s three people in Utah.

Anthony Godfrey:
Wow. That's really cool. Have you been to Washington, D.C. before?  

Child:
No.  

Anthony Godfrey:
What are you most excited to see there?  

Child:
The Lincoln Memorial.  

Anthony Godfrey:
That's going to be exciting. Well, congratulations. Tell me about your experience in the Jordan School District competition.  

Child:
I visited the Capitol for a school field trip, and I got to see how things worked in the Capitol, and I thought that was really cool.  

Anthony Godfrey:
What impressed you most about visiting the state Capitol?  

Child:
How much design it had.  Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah. I think it's beautiful. And when you compare it with other states, lots of people are envious of what we have here. Why do you think it's important to celebrate America's 250th anniversary?  

Child:
Because I think it's important to know what people did for us to have a free country and how special we are that we're free and we can do what we want. We can celebrate our own religion. We can do whatever we want.  

Anthony Godfrey:
Thank you very much. Stay with us. When we come back, we'll talk more with the Black family.

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 student want to become a veterinarian, commercial pilot, programmer? Maybe they want to make a difference as a dental assistant. These are just some of the programs offered as part of Career and Technical Education, CTE in Jordan School District. CTE provides the technical skills needed to prepare students for future employment or for a successful transition to post-secondary education. Career and Technical Education provides work-based learning opportunities. We partner with industry experts to offer apprenticeships and internships with students working in the real world at real jobs while going to school. The CTE experience starts in our elementary schools with the kids' marketplace and grows through middle and high school. To explore all CTE has to offer in Jordan School District, visit cte.jordandistrict.org today and let's get your child started on the pathway to a profession.

Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me about your contest that you entered in Jordan School District.  

Child:
Memorize the Pledge of Allegiance.  

Anthony Godfrey:
And when you memorize the Pledge of Allegiance, how did it feel to be able to do that in front of other people? Did you have fun?  

Child:
Mm-hmm.  

Anthony Godfrey:
How many times have you heard the Pledge of Allegiance said in your home while Daniel was memorizing that?  

Mother:
We've heard a lot of Pledge of Allegiance and the Star Spangled Banner.  

Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, yeah. Okay. Was the Star-Spangled Banner part of that as well, memorizing it?  

Mother:
No, it was just something that we learned at home and he likes to sing it, yeah.  

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah, the rockets, red glare and everything else.  

Mother:
And so we also did some community projects and so we helped with the Salt Lake Rescue Mission, donating some items for that and then collecting coins for the Pregnancy Resource Center. And then at Christmas, we also built a shoebox with different Christmas items so that we could send them overseas.  

Anthony Godfrey:
What are some of the things you collected for the Rescue Mission?  

Child:
Water bottles.  

Anthony Godfrey:
Water bottles. I can see that would be very helpful.  

Child:
Some blue and some green.

Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, good. So you clearly asked them what they needed most and then collected that. That's awesome. Since you've been practicing the Pledge of Allegiance, are you guys ready to do that for the people listening?  

Child:
Mm-hmm.  All right. Let's hear it.  

Children:
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.  

Anthony Godfrey:
Congratulations on learning that. That's fantastic. That will serve you well the rest of your life. Tell me about your experience with America 250.  

Child:
I visited the fire department and the library and going to church and the water and I wrote a letter to the president.  

Anthony Godfrey:
So all of those were on the list of possible activities to earn the America 250 award in Jordan School District. Tell me, did the president write you back?  

Child:
Yes.  

Anthony Godfrey:
Why do you think it's important for us to celebrate America's 250th anniversary?  

Child:
Because you can know what happened and you can learn more about the people who served.  

Anthony Godfrey:
I love that.  Just thinking about all the people that made our freedoms possible. What are you most excited about seeing when you get to go to Washington, D.C.?  

Child:
The Lincoln Memorial.  

Anthony Godfrey:
The Lincoln Memorial is going to be really exciting. Daniel, what are you excited to see?  

Child:
The Jefferson Memorial.  

Anthony Godfrey:
The Jefferson Memorial, yes. It's on the back of the nickel, but you guys don't know what a nickel is probably. I'm just kidding. You don't have to use coins.  

Mother:
We actually are trying to collect all the coins.  

Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, that's good.  

Mother:
For the 250.  

Anthony Godfrey:
What does this mean for your family for her to win this trip and for you to be able to do this?  

Mother:
This is so exciting. We were wanting to go to Washington, D.C., and this is a great opportunity to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our country and tour the Capitol and see some of the sites and monuments over there, as well as visiting some of the surrounding areas. So going up to the Liberty Bell Independence Hall, learn about our freedoms, learn about our history so that we can share it with others here when we return.  

Anthony Godfrey:
So you're expanding going up to Philadelphia as well.  

Motehr:
Yes.  

Anthony Godfrey:
That's fantastic that you're going to be able to do that.  Yes.  This will be unforgettable.  

Mother:
Yes.  

Anthony Godfrey:
I was . . . .

Mother
Once in a lifetime.  

Anthony Godfrey:
I was in Philadelphia for our 200th anniversary as a country.  

Mother:
Wow.  

Anthony Godfrey:
So 50 years ago, I was there visiting the Liberty Bell. So that's really exciting that you get to do that at a time like this.  

Mother:
Yes.  

Anthony Godfrey:
Congratulations to your family for celebrating and for winning these great prizes.  

Mother:
Yes, thank you. My parents were history buffs, and we would travel across the US, and we would stop at presidential homes and museums and learn more about our country's history. And so I've been to these locations, but to share them with my kids, it's going to be amazing and such a life changing opportunity for them.  

Anthony Godfrey:
It sounds like this is a long time in the making this trip.  

Mother:
Yes.  

Anthony Godfrey:
Because your husband was a tour guide, your parents are history buffs, and your children are readers, and have competed in these various competitions. So you guys have been very involved.  

Mother:
Yes.  

Anthony Godfrey:
And it couldn't have happened to a better family.  

Mother:
Thank you so much.  

Anthony Godfrey:
To celebrate this way.  Congratulations.  

Mother:
Thank you.  

Anthony Godfrey:
And Evangeline is very excited about it. She's going to have the best time of all because it seems she has a great time wherever she goes.  

Mother:
Yes. She loves her siblings.

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

Anthony Godfrey:
So the book is ‘Adriana and the Cloud That Whispered.’ So can you tell us about what happens in the book? No spoilers though.

Harper:
Well, it's about a girl who embarrassed herself, and then like a cloud, negative thoughts came and started telling her negative things.

Anthony Godfrey:
Hello and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. She is only in elementary school and is already a published author experiencing the impact her written words and work ethic can have on others. On this episode of the Supercast meet an Oakcrest Elementary School student who recently wrote and published her very first book. Find out her inspiration behind the book and how this young author hopes it can help kids who might be having a hard time at home or in school. We are at Oakcrest Elementary today to talk with a student author. Introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about the book.

Harper:
Hi my name is Harper Camacho and my book that I made is to help kids that are having a little like a hard time and if they have any negative thoughts, what to do about it.

Anthony Godfrey:
That's a great reason to write a book. Now tell me what inspired you to write this book? Were there personal experiences that made you want to write this?

Harper:
Yeah I was just like mad at all my sisters.

Anthony Godfrey:
That happens, listeners, if you have sisters you may have been mad at them at a time or two but you were feeling mad at your sisters a lot.

Harper:
Yeah.

Anthony Godfrey:
And tell me more about that.

Harper:
I was just mad at my sisters. I was just mad about some things that I didn't know what some things were. I just were mad so I decided . . .  my mom told me to write it down, and then I decided with my mom to make a book about it.

Anthony Godfrey:
And you were more angry. Were you sometimes not even know why you were as angry as you were? Did that seem kind of out of your control a little bit?

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah. What were some of the things that made you angry about your sisters or made you angry in general?

Harper:
My sister Malia she...

Anthony Godfrey:
You're naming names, okay, go on.

Harper:
Yeah, my sister Malia, she would . . . I have a little sister Olivia, she is a lot and Malia knows how to get out of helping with her.

Anthony Godfrey:
I see.

Harper:
So I kind of have to help a lot more than I want to because my sister knows how to get herself out of it.

Anthony Godfrey:
So then you end up representing both sisters the sister you have to take care of and the sister who should have taken care of Olivia. Wow this sounds complex. So being angry about that and angry about others you wrote this book. So let's jump to having the book finished. Once you wrote this book, how did it feel having put all of these thoughts and ideas into written form?

Harper:
It felt pretty good because I was just so excited to write a book. I loved how I could probably help a lot of kids like me.

Anthony Godfrey:
And who is the audience? Who do you hope will read this book?

Harper:
My friends, family, kids that feel like they would like, are emotional, and don't know what to do about it.

Anthony Godfrey:
Do you hope Malia will read this book?

Harper:
Malia has read this book, and she likes it.

Anthony Godfrey:
She likes it. Is she a better Malia because of it?

Harper:
She has been helping me more.

Anthony Godfrey:
Okay so that's that's a pretty great. If nobody else read the book, but Malia is helping you more, than the book's worth writing. Absolutely. That's great. A lot of authors could not say that they've solved life's problems as effectively as you have. Are there are you a big reader? Do you love to read?

Harper:
I don't love it but I will read.

Anthony Godfrey:
It's interesting that you're such a good writer without necessarily being as passionate about reading. So what are some of the books that you have liked over the years?

Harper:
I liked "Holes".

Anthony Godfrey:
You like "Holes"?

Harper:
Yeah that is a good book.

Anthony Godfrey:
So the book is "Adriana and the Cloud That Whispered." So can you tell us about what happens in the book? No spoilers though because the people listening are going to want a copy.

Harper:
Well it's about a girl who embarrassed herself and then like a cloud, negative thoughts came and started telling her negative things, and she figured out a way to figure it out and get rid of those negative thoughts. make the cloud smaller until it was just small enough that nobody could see it. I think that's a great idea.

Anthony Godfrey:
I love the idea of the cloud representing those feelings that come from being embarrassed. Even adults I think remember embarrassing moments. Do you have embarrassing moments that you think you're going to remember for a long time?

Harper:
Yes.

Anthony Godfrey:
Do you think that the people around you will remember them as well as you do?

Harper:
I think my mom and dad will remember them.

Anthony Godfrey:
Is there anything you want to tell the listening audience about your embarrassing moments?

Harper:
I'd rather not.

Anthony Godfrey:
See, that's a true embarrassing moment because you don't want to share it. In a few decades you can share it, you know, in the year 2040,  2050 you will revisit it. Tell us about how you created the pictures for the book. This is, it has it looks really good visually.

Harper:
Took some of the words from the story and tried to make it into a picture. Some of them worked immediately and some of them took a lot of tries to redo it.

Anthony Godfrey:
So was this using artificial intelligence?

Harper:
Yeah. So using AI to make these pictures, how did some of the pictures turn out initially? That some of the outtakes that you're not including in the book?

Harper:
Well like one of them where she knocks over her water bottle, it was her dumping her water bottle onto the paper, and we wanted it to look like an accident.

Anthony Godfrey:
So AI didn't get the point?

Harper:
No. We had to keep redoing it until it worked.

Anthony Godfrey:
AI should be embarrassed that it missed the mark so much. AI doesn't know shame yet but it will eventually; they'll develop that. Well, it looks very professional and I have to say the drawings look like they were made just for the book. They really are; they really are impressive. I like it. So obviously you worked closely with AI to make this work. Having written this book does it make you want to write another one?

Harper:
Yeah it does.

Anthony Godfrey:
Have you ever thought about writing a series about the adventures of a superintendent?

Harper:
No.

Anthony Godfrey:
You haven't? Well, if you decide that you want to do that, I would be glad to help you. I think it really has some potential. The people want to hear more about the lives of superintendents, and you could be the person to write it. Okay, the pitch isn't really working.

Anthony Godfrey:
Stay with us when we come back. More with Harper Camacho.

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 student want to become a veterinarian, commercial pilot, programmer? Maybe they want to make a difference as a dental assistant. These are just some of the programs offered as part of Career and Technical Education, CTE in Jordan School District. CTE provides the technical skills needed to prepare students for future employment or for a successful transition to post-secondary education. Career and Technical Education provides work-based learning opportunities. We partner with industry experts to offer apprenticeships and internships with students working in the real world at real jobs while going to school. The CTE experience starts in our elementary schools with the Kids Marketplace and grows through middle and high school. To explore all CTE has to offer in Jordan School District, visit cte.jordandistrict.org today and let's get your child started on the pathway to a profession.

Anthony Godfrey:
What other books have you thought about writing?

Harper:
Some things like similar to it, like this book, but I haven't figured it out yet but I want to do something similar.

Anthony Godfrey:
Similar as in something that can help other kids and deal with difficulties or issues that they have?

Harper:
Yeah.

Anthony Godfrey:
It really is amazing how fiction can help put us in someone else's mindset and help us think about our own problems from another perspective. So, I think it's really extremely impressive that you've been able to write this. So, there's a picture of you and your mom on the back. How much did your parents help with this idea and help support you through this process?

Harper:
A lot.

Anthony Godfrey:
That's really, that's really awesome, and did that make you feel closer with your parents to be able to do this together?

Harper:
Yes.

Anthony Godfrey:
Did it bring you closer to Malia as well because you were able to explore the difficulties that you'd had though when you think about your relationship?

Harper:
Yeah.

Anthony Godfrey:
Good. So closer to your parents, closer to Malia, and I have no doubt that you're going to be able to provide the same support to anyone who reads this book. This is really going to help them. It helps to know that you're not alone in dealing with a problem. Let's talk with your mom. Introduce yourself and tell us about what this has been like.

Elisa June:
Hi, my name is Elisa June and it's been interesting. I mean, Harper, it's no surprise. We've had a crazy last few years and so emotions in our house and especially being the oldest child she's just taken on a lot. Yeah it's just really cool to be able to do something with her and to see her do something that she's proud of.

Anthony Godfrey:
And I see here on the back of the book that she missed most of second grade. Tell us about that.

Elisa June:
Yeah, we actually moved to Florida and going from you know, this . . .

Anthony Godfrey:
Does Florida offer second grade.

Elisa June:
They do but we just went from first grade here and then we went to second grade there and I just didn't it was just stressful. I was not sure about the school. I was like, nope we'll try the homeschooling thing tried that for like a month or two it did not work out and so she kind of we just kind of had like a long summer vacation, honestly, which wasn't the greatest. We tried to teach them here and there all the kids something but just yeah it just didn't work out. When we moved back and we're like yeah, we'll put her back at Oakcrest and we did that and her teachers have been amazing helping catch her up.

Anthony Godfrey:
Fantastic and have your other kids been inspired by the book?

Elisa June:
Yeah, Malia wants to write her own.

Anthony Godfrey:
I wondered whether Malia is an aspiring author now as well.

Elisa June:
She's working on it. She's working on it.

Anthony Godfrey:
And is she what is she going to write about? Any previews there?

Elisa June:
Yeah she wanted to write about a tornado because obviously she loves you know learning from her sister and stuff like that, so I'm not a hundred percent sure, but that's kind of where her mind's at right now is just the chaos in her life.

Anthony Godfrey:
Okay, well that's that's really exciting. What changes have you seen in your children because of this book?

Elisa June:
I think that I will say the tools more so in the book like the what they're doing. It's fascinating to see when they're having a rough moment or a rough day to be able to do something like what the tool that the book teaches; it completely shifts it. I mean, they can go from being mad at each other and yelling and into, " Okay, we can be friends again” very quickly because of it and so I think the tool itself is actually my favorite thing. Seeing her write the book and seeing her get excited and having friends like it and having her sisters like it and family members being supportive, it's definitely made everybody kind of see the work that she puts in behind the scenes to help and also manage her emotions.

Anthony Godfrey:
It is really impressive that you've learned at this young age that there's something you can do about it, you aren't just subject to your emotions, you can you can figure things out, and you can work things out. If if anyone wants to get a copy of the book how do they do that?

Harper:
It's on Amazon. So ‘Adriana and The Cloud That Whispered’ it's on Amazon.

Anthony Godfrey:
‘Adriana and The Cloud That Whispered.’ A-D-R-I-A-N-A.  Check it out and pick it up on Amazon. This is really cool. Now we want to talk with your teacher as well. Introduce yourself and talk a little bit about what it's like to be the teacher of an author.

Megan:
So my name is Megan Blake and I'm Harper's fifth grade teacher and I have always had students say when they grow up, they're gonna be an author. I've never had a student who's become an author as a fifth grader. So it's really impressive to me to have a student who was able to chase their dreams and see the success and rewards of that while still in fifth grade.

Harper
How has the class reacted to it?

Megan:
So we actually read the book as a class before it was published officially and they loved it. They gave her a standing ovation. They asked if they could buy copies of it. They have been really supportive and kind of rallied around her. They told kids in other fifth grade classes that their teacher needed to read it to their class and it's kind of, it's kind of been a positive spread through our grade as they've explored how they can use these tools as well. I've actually seen other kids in my class be inspired to maybe want to write their own stories as well, though none of them have gotten as far in that process as Harper has.

Anthony Godfrey:
Well, putting the work in behind the inspiration that's what really sets you apart but hopefully some others decide to do that as well, and it's exciting to hear that it's gone so viral in fifth grade here at Oakcrest. That's a really good start, and it doesn't surprise me, looking at it it's just it's it's really cool and I I don't know I think you have big things ahead of you. In fact I'm sure of it, and this is this is really exciting to get to talk with you about this. Have you seen an impact on Harper specifically after she wrote this and how she manages herself?

Megan:
I feel like it's given her a lot more of a boost of confidence where she knows that that she can do hard things and I feel like she's been really happy to see that she's affecting the lives of the kids around her, her peers, in a positive way where maybe she felt she didn't have that reach before having this as a tool she's been really very quick to share it with someone “you should read my book it'll help you with this” and it's been really great to see. I've used it with my own kids too I bought a copy for them and we we've sat down and I'm like remember the storm cloud. What can we do about that? So it's it's helped my own children at home. It's helped kids in our class; we kind of turned it into some common language that we use in our classroom and I think that she takes some pride in being a part of that.

Anthony Godfrey:
Wow, so it's positively impacted your family; it's impacting other students in class positively. I think one day there'll be an amusement park ride “Adriana and the Cloud That Whispered” where you're riding the car away from the cloud you know and you finally escape. I don't know, one day, one day. we'll get it at Lagoon. This is super impressive amazing that you just followed through on this inspiration and this idea and that you're helping so many people as a result, so congratulations. I'm gonna get on Amazon and get my two-day delivery of the book so that I can get you to sign up for me and inscribe it, maybe you know “to the superintendent that inspired my story.” Okay, never mind; we won't,  we won't add that fiction to the fiction you've already written but thank you very much. It's so exciting to talk with you and I look forward to hearing about your future projects.

Harper:
Thanks

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

Bruce Cutler:
Kids who had even just a small scholarship, small money set aside for college, were something like 50-60% greater chance of going to college than if they didn't.

Anthony Godfrey:
We can all look back and identify someone who really believed in us and helped us get to where we are and this is an incredible example of someone investing in a student they may not even know very well early on to help them achieve their best possible success.

Anthony Godfrey:
Hello and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. They are in seventh grade and already working hard to make sure their future looks bright when it comes to pursuing higher education. On this episode of the Supercast, we take you to a STEM My 529 Scholarship Awards dinner where some young students received $500 for their college savings accounts. Find out what the students did to earn the scholarships and how the accounts will help their families start building funds to pay for future enrollment in colleges, universities, or trade schools.

Anthony Godfrey:
We are here at the Jordan Learning Center talking about tonight's banquet and Bruce, I would like you to introduce yourself and talk about this event which you started years ago.

Bruce Cutler:
I did. Bruce Cutler, I was a software developer all of my, well, all of my major career life, graduated in computer science University of Utah and had some good jobs here in Utah and then became a member of the Jordan Education Foundation Board. Before that, I was a member of the Utah State Legislature and when I was up there, I was particularly interested in working with those in poverty. I was involved with the Intergenerational Poverty Commission, the group who's trying to stop poverty by stopping the advance of children into poverty that not following their parents. One of the studies that was done and I think it was done out of California as I recall, but one of the things that they discovered was that kids who had even just a small scholarship, small money set aside for college, were something like 50-60 percent greater chance of going to college than if they didn't. And so I thought, gee, at that point I was actually on the Canyons Foundation Board, and we actually started this in Canyons before I moved out here. But it was a concept is give a kid who's in the seventh grade, they've still got six years of school, well five years because they're graduating from then, and then give them a small scholarship and it put into the 529 Plan where it can take care of the investing of that and say, you know, “Here's some money set aside for you at this early age so that you can go to college.” You have to get some kind of post-high school education and of course we didn't know, we don't know. I don't think where first group has gotten through yet. I think they may be seniors now but I'm not sure. Yeah. So we thought we'd just try it out and we'll see whether it actually happens or not, but so far.

Anthony Godfrey:
That's right, that's right. Now for those who may not understand, will you describe what a My 529 Account does?

Bruce Cutler:
My 529 Account is a state, is a national, a federal program and it allows parents particularly, to be able to invest money and set it aside for use of post-high school education. And so the My 529 is the Utah portion of that, the Utah-based portion of the 529 and so they invested in various and sundry investments so that by the time these kids are ready to go to college, it's there for them and they can use it on any kind of post-high school education.

Anthony Godfrey:
So you have sought donors to essentially sponsor a student's education in seventh grade.

Bruce Cutler:
Yep.

Anthony Godfrey:
So instead of waiting to see if they did well, you invest in them early on to help ensure that they do well because they know, hey there's someone outside of my family who has no expectation to cheer for me that has invested, literally invested in me and I better live up to that.

Bruce Cutler:
Yep. It's kind of the story of planting a tree that somebody else is gonna sit in the shade of. So we're investing this money in these kids and we don't know whether they're gonna do well or not, but analysis has proven that yeah they will, they will do well and they will go on and get some kind of post-high school education. I was talking to a friend of mine who was just a daughter was one of the first recipients and he says, “Yeah, when I was talking to my daughter initially she wanted to go into some kind of beauty school but then she got this scholarship.” She says, “Well, maybe I do want to consider going into some kind of a technology instead,” and so she changed her direction and so we'll see.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah. That's already a great result, hearing that it has had such an impact on her and when you think about it most of us don't want to let people down. We want to live up to people's expectations, and we know that teacher expectations are a key element of a student's success. If the teacher expects you to learn and expects you to do well and has high expectations, high standards, then students are much more likely to rise to those and I think this is a monetary version of that where it's and it's the community it's why I talk about a lot with the Foundation, that when it's someone outside of your family, outside of the organization that's cheering for you that's not really required to as a part of their job or as their family responsibility just they believe in these students and they are investing in the community I think it goes a very long way.

Bruce Cutler:
Absolutely.

Anthony Godfrey:
Why do you think seventh grade is the right time to invest in students like this?

Bruce Cutler:
Well, they're out of elementary school they're into middle school or into junior high school and so it's a different environment now and they're now starting to say, “Oh okay this is this is real.” I've got elementary school, you just get through it but now I'm getting into middle school or into junior high and so they're starting to think just a little bit different but there's so many challenges between the point of seventh grade before they get into high school and tenth grade that can come along and derail them. It's best to catch them when they're first into that middle school junior high age and get them thinking about it that they hadn't even thought of before. So the better the sooner we catch them once they're into that middle school then the chances are pretty good they're gonna stick with it.

Anthony Godfrey:
Well in middle school they're trying to create their identity they're making choices and they are starting to look more toward the future. They start to see, “oh, the five-year calendar includes my graduation date so maybe I need to start thinking about things.” So often we are really just trying to help students imagine what they could achieve and reach for something beyond just what's right in front of them and I think this is an incredible way of doing that. I've had the opportunity to speak to these groups and I love we're at the banquet tonight, the dinner where we kind of launch that and honor those who are receiving the scholarship and it's a parent or parents with the student and I love seeing the family's reaction to this. What family reactions have you seen over the years and what reactions have you heard from donors?

Bruce Cutler:
I think one of the things that I've seen is parents who say, “You know, I never went to college and to see my daughter or my son now having the money set aside to go to college, something I never did, I couldn't do. But now I can see my daughter or my son being able to do what I always wanted to do.” That's a great thing, great progress.

Anthony Godfrey:
Well for those who've watched The Office this is the opposite of Scott's Tots where he promises to pay for their college and then does not deliver. This is a promise that sticks and it's not paying for all of college but like you said it's a scholarship that gives that bump, that rocket fuel as I like to say, to say, “Hey, wait a minute, people believe in me and they want me to do well and they're supporting that.”

Bruce Cutler:
That's right.

Anthony Godfrey:
Well, Bruce, I can't thank you enough. I was so excited to hear that you were gonna be here tonight and I get to talk with you.

Bruce Cutler:
Well thank you. It's always good to talk to you. Although you're not on our board at this point, you've been a huge impact and I always thank you I've been impressed with how eager you were for opportunities. I remember on numerous occasions you talking to me saying, “We can do more, how else can we get into schools?” So thank you for being so dedicated for so many years.

Bruce Cutler:
My pleasure, thank you very much.

Anthony Godfrey:
Stay with us when we come back more with the people associated with the STEM My 529 Scholarship awards.

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:
Are you looking for a job right now? Looking to work in a fun and supportive environment with great pay and a rewarding career? Jordan School District is hiring. We're currently filling full and part-time positions. You can work and make a difference in young lives and education as a classroom assistant or a substitute teacher. Apply to work in one of our school cafeterias, where our lunch staff serves up big smiles with great food every day. We're also looking to hire custodians and bus drivers. In Jordan School District, we like to say people come for the job and enjoy the adventure. Apply today at employment.jordandistrict.org.

Anthony Godfrey:
Talking now with a principal in our district and a student who have seen the impact of this My 529 program. Introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about the impact you've seen from this.

Spencer Campbell:
My name is Spencer Campbell. I'm the principal of Kelsey Peak Virtual Middle School and one of the things that I've seen helps students and helps them grow is a lot of students have aptitude for technology or robotics or CTE and the scholarship, the 529 scholarship, helps them on that path and so as they move through middle school onto high school whether it's J Tech or another program it helps them fund that potential college funding when they get to college and it really helps kids in their passion which is usually in the CTE field.

Alex Rose:
My name is Alex Rose. I am a student at Kelsey Peak. I am very interested in computers. I love working with my hands, seeing how things work, coding. I love technology, and like I said earlier, working with my hands.

Anthony Godfrey:
What do you like about being at Kelsey Peak?

Alex Rose:
Oh, I love being asynchronous at Kelsey Peak because it helps me work at my own pace, because I do have some problems, and public school was really difficult for me. So it's great to be at Kelsey Peak where I can work at my own pace.

Anthony Godfrey:
Fantastic. What does it mean to have someone invest in you through this scholarship?

Alex Rose:
Honestly, pretty exciting because and also a little scary, because it's great. Don't get me wrong I love this that someone has like seen that I could probably do something great, but also it's kind of scary now that I have their expectations laying on my shoulders.

Anthony Godfrey:
Well I think you're gonna do a very, very good job with the help of Kelsey Peak and some great teachers and administrators, and counselors along the way. You know what you love, and you're working hard toward it, so I think that's awesome and I love that someone sees that in you already, that you have this potential like you said to do something great. So congratulations on receiving this.

Alex Rose:
Thank you. Thank you a lot. It means a lot to me.

Anthony Godfrey:
Mr. Campbell tell us what it means to have someone outside of the organization and outside of a student's family believe in them and literally invest in them so early.

Spencer Campbell:
I think it's absolutely fantastic not only as a parent but as a principal and we can find our students strengths and then reward them for the things that they are good at especially when it's an academic content or something that might go under the radar a little bit. I think it's great that you know people donate to the 529 and then we can have them build into that program when they get to college and their future path.

Anthony Godfrey:
What would you say to those who are considering whether they want to donate or whether they would want to be part of a program like this?

Spencer Campbell:
Just do it. You're gonna bless kids’ lives and I think that every student that is here tonight has shown a passion in a different aptitude whether that's coding or technology or robotics or you know other areas in CTE. You're helping build the future for students that will end up changing the world in those fields which is super awesome to think about but also know on the backend that you've donated to that progress and the future.

Anthony Godfrey:
We can all look back and identify someone who really believed in us and helped us get to where we are. This is an incredible example of someone investing in a student they may not even know very well early on to help them achieve their best possible success. Tell me, you talked about what you're interested in, what do you want to do as a career?

Alex Rose:
Oh boy there's a lot that I want to do such as things like welding and forging sounds very fun to do, like it would help me work with my hands and things. Also, coding or working with computers. It would also be great like a developer of some kind that gets to work with code and sees what you make come to life. That's just really cool to see.

Anthony Godfrey:
Well you have a lot of opportunities ahead of you and even more with this My 529 scholarship. Thank you both for talking with me and we'll see out there.

Both:
Thank you.

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