Rapid City Area Schools Teacher of the Year Katey Swank thought she had it all figured out when she walked into her first classroom. By the end of day one, she was sitting in a tiny chair trying not to cry.

Then someone showed up for her.

Twenty years later, Katey shares how that simple act of support helped shape the teacher, mentor and colleague she would become. From the educators who helped her find her footing to the students who discovered they could help each other grow, Katey reflects on why collaboration is about much more than meetings, committees or programs.

It’s about people.

In this special episode of the Public School Podcast, Katey shares a powerful message about belonging, teacher retention, community and the relationships that keep educators going when the work gets hard. And she leaves all of us with one question worth carrying into the school year: Who will you show up for?

Photo Credit: Jesse Brown Nelson, BHFCU’s School Support Drive

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

What happens when three fifth-grade teachers decide to grow a garden inside their school? A whole lot more than lettuce.

Meadowbrook Elementary teachers Katie Swank, Kylie Blank and Lacey Brown join Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer to share how a hydroponics project turned into a hands-on learning experience for their students. With support from the Rapid City Public School Foundation, Meadowbrook PTA and Nerdy Nuts, students took ownership of two hydroponic towers, learning how to plant, monitor pH levels, maintain the system, document their progress and eventually harvest what they grew.

But the lessons went far beyond science. Students learned patience, teamwork, communication, responsibility and even how to teach younger students about hydroponics. They harvested lettuce that was served during school lunch, grew flowers for teachers and discovered firsthand where food comes from.

The teachers also share the moments when things did not exactly go according to plan, including walking into school to find a hydroponic leak and a whole lot of water.

Now the project is growing again. Meadowbrook fifth graders are taking what they learned outdoors with plans for a new garden, while adding lessons in financial literacy and exploring how the food they grow could be shared with families and the community.

It all started with a teacher who loved gardening, a grant application and a willingness to try something completely new. Now it is creating the kind of school memories students may carry with them long after fifth grade.

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