How do students choose courses that reflect who they are, and who they’re becoming?

In this episode of Talking the WCASD Way, we explore high school course selection and how thoughtful planning helps students design learning paths aligned with their interests, strengths, and future goals.

Whether you’re a student, family member, or community partner, this conversation offers clarity, reassurance, and perspective on choosing a path that fits, without pressure to have everything figured out.

In this episode, Superintendent Dr. David Christopher joins Talking the WCASD Way for a State of the District conversation. Together, David and Kalia reflect on accomplishments across classrooms and communities, discuss current priorities, and look ahead to the work that continues in support of every student, every day!

Sometimes the best conversations are the unplanned ones! In this pre-winter break episode, Mrs. Molly Schwemler and Dr. Kalia Reynolds hit pause on the typical episode plan and talk about how Talking the WCASD Way came to life, why creating space for stories and transparency matters, and what they’ve enjoyed most along the way. They also share what they're hoping to highlight next, and invite listeners to help shape future episodes by submitting topic ideas. Consider this your backstage pass and an invitation to join the conversation.

In this episode of Talking the WCASD Way, we sit down with two WCASD graduates who returned to the district as school leaders. Principal John Meanix and Assistant Principal Alyse Gonzalez reflect on what inspired them to choose education, how their experiences as WCASD students shaped their path, and what it means to lead in the community that raised them.

In this episode, Dr. Kalia Reynolds talks with WCASD leaders and student intern Lauren Hillanbrand about Career Compass, our district’s work-based learning program that connects students with real-world career exploration. Learn how these experiences help students build Portrait of a Graduate skills and discover their future pathways.

What do school assessments really tell us about student learning? In this episode of Talking the WCASD Way, Dr. Kalia Reynolds talks with Jim Ronayne, Supervisor of Assessment and Accountability, about how WCASD uses purposeful assessments—from classroom check-ins to state tests and SAT/ACT prep—to understand growth, guide instruction, and help every student succeed.

What happens when district leaders spend a day walking in students’ shoes? In this episode of Talking the WCASD Way, Dr. Reynolds and Dr. Jimmy Conley reconnect with two students they shadowed last year, one now navigating high school, the other preparing to graduate. Together, they talk about what motivates them, what really matters in their day-to-day experiences, and what they wish adults better understood about school life.

In this first episode of Talking the WCASD Way, host Dr. Kalia Reynolds sits down with Greystone Elementary leaders Dr. Erin Stephen and Mrs. Ashley Melanson to explore how the district’s Portrait of a Graduate is coming to life across classrooms, hallways, and homes.

From fostering empathy and adaptability to empowering students as responsible problem-solvers, hear how Greystone is helping every learner grow into their best future self — the WCASD way.