Episodi

  • Ask Mr. Fisher (almost) Anything - Ep. 076

    Ask Mr. Fisher (almost) Anything - Ep. 076
    Oct 6 2026
    'The GIPS Cast' is back and Mr. Fisher is ready for your questions!

    After taking the summer off, GIPS has re-launched their district podcast with a new video feature. Matt Fisher, GIPS Superintendent, joins the podcast for a mailbag episode.

    Dozens of questions were submitted from GIPS students, staff, families, and community members. In this episode, Mr. Fisher fields a few on a variety of topics like:
    • What's the process for calling snow days?
    • Is GIPS ready for a second high school?
    • What about a 4-day school week?
    • How do you define student success?
    • What's the best motorcycle?
    • And more

    Catch the full conversation here or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform!

    https://www.gips.org/about-us/gips-podcast

    Let's talk!

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    GUEST:
    Matt Fisher - GIPS Superintendent

    HOST:
    Mitchell Roush - GIPS Communications Director

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    WEBSITE: https://www.gips.org

    FB: facebook.com/GrandIslandPublicSchools

    IG: @gipublicschools

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    34 min
  • Intermission for July & Updates for 2026-27

    Intermission for July & Updates for 2026-27
    Jun 30 2026
    Exciting stories and a new format are on the horizong for 'The GIPS Cast'!

    Mitchell Roush, GIPS Communications Director, joins the podcast to share a brief public service announcement in two parts.

    Part One:
    'The GIPS Cast' will be on a brief intermission for the month of July 2026.

    Part Two:
    We're updating the podcast format and storytelling focus starting in August 2026.

    Hear Mitch's update for the full rundown of what's next for the podcast.

    Even with our monthlong intermission and new formatting on the horizon, we will continue anchoring each episode with the voices and stories of our staff and students.

    Because it’s our staff and students who make Grand Island Public Schools a great place to be.

    Don’t go anywhere listeners!

    Our break is just for the month of July.

    In the meantime, you’re welcome to listen, or perhaps RElisten, to our backlog of 75 episodes.
    And as we ramp up for the 2026-27 school year, we’ll be back with some more great stories from our district.

    See you soon!

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    HOST:
    Mitchell Roush - GIPS Communications Director

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    WEBSITE: https://www.gips.org

    FB: facebook.com/GrandIslandPublicSchools

    IG: @gipublicschools
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    5 min
  • Advocating for Every Student w/ Breanna McDonald, Lincoln Elementary

    Advocating for Every Student w/ Breanna McDonald, Lincoln Elementary
    Jun 9 2026
    Breanna McDonald is a community builder.

    Mrs. McDonald has been with GIPS for a decade, with the last four years serving as the Principal of Lincoln Elementary. As a former Kindergarten Teacher and Academic Support Coach, she has a big heart for not just reaching every student — but advocating for every student and their families.

    Everything she does is fueled by the mission of building a strong community. A community for her staff to feel supported in collaboration and their expertise; a community for students to feel seen, heard, and gain opportunities for them to succeed; a community for families to feel like Lincoln Elementary is their second home. All of it is community.

    At the close of the school year, Mrs. McDonald joined our podcast to share her philosophy of public education, and give an inside glimpse into what makes Lincoln Elementary special and how she and her staff view each school day as an opportunity to make an impact.


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    GUEST:
    Breanna McDonald - Lincoln Elementary Principal

    HOST:
    Mitchell Roush - GIPS Communications Director

    --

    FB: facebook.com/GrandIslandPublicSchools

    https://www.gips.org/
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    28 min
  • Making Poetry Accessible to All w/ Nebraska State Poet Jewel Rodgers & Tessa Bockoven, GISH Senior

    Making Poetry Accessible to All w/ Nebraska State Poet Jewel Rodgers & Tessa Bockoven, GISH Senior
    May 13 2026
    There’s power in the written and the spoken word.

    That’s certainly the message our current state poet, Jewel Rodgers, is taking with her to call corners of Nebraska.

    For those that don’t know, Jewel Rodgers is a creative force. She fills a room with laughter, with dynamic spoken word gravitas, and spend 10 minutes with her and you’ll know beyond a doubt that she is driven by not only sharing her creative work but championing the power of voice in others.

    Jewel served as the Nebraska State Poet since 2025 and is the first African American to hold the role. She has been a spoken word poet for more than a decade, performing in schools, festivals, community settings, conferences, public events, and other venues.

    Recently, Jewel visited Grand Island Senior High to lead a student writers workshop and host a Poetry Reading & Open Mic Night event.

    GISH Senior Tessa Bockoven sat down with Jewel, on the mic, to dish on poetry, the creative process, the effects of A.I., and so, so much more. Their conversation is an authentic journey of two creatives — one in high school venturing soon to college; and the other a statewide ambassador for all things poetry.

    Jewel even performs one of her favorite personal pieces.

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    GUESTS:
    Jewel Rodgers - Nebraska State Poet
    Tessa Bockoven - GISH Senior

    HOST:
    Mitchell Roush - GIPS Communications Director

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    FB: facebook.com/GrandIslandPublicSchools

    https://www.gips.org/
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    41 min
  • Life as a Middle School Social Studies Teacher w/ Ms. Jen Kramer

    Life as a Middle School Social Studies Teacher w/ Ms. Jen Kramer
    Apr 7 2026
    "Trying to put kids into history helps make those connections and makes it [learning] fun for them... There's endless possibilities and opportunities."

    Jen Kramer is more than a Middle School Social Studies Teacher — she is a cheerleader for all Middle School students.

    11 years into teaching at the Middle School level, you’ll find an incredible blend of learning, laughter, fun, and insight in her classroom. Sometimes she’ll be dressed-up in a George Washington costume — and all of it driven by connecting with students and helping them connect with the power of other people’s stories.

    Ms. Kramer joins 'The GIPS Cast' to dish on social studies, the fun found in teaching Middle School, and the lasting impact of public education.

    Because she believes every student can do great things, and that history has a way of sparking inspiration.

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    GUEST:
    Jen Kramer - 8th Grade Social Studies Teacher, Westridge Middle Schools

    HOST:
    Mitchell Roush - GIPS Communications Director

    --

    FB: facebook.com/GrandIslandPublicSchools

    https://www.gips.org/
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    21 min
  • Student Voice & Leading the Mentoring Movement w/ Angie, Reagan, & Zuri and Mentor Nebraska

    Student Voice & Leading the Mentoring Movement w/ Angie, Reagan, & Zuri and Mentor Nebraska
    Mar 24 2026
    "Young people have the voice — we just need to pass the mic."

    For 25 years, Mentor Nebraska has been a leader in honoring the past and empowering the next generation.

    This year, Mentor Nebraska launched something really cool; something that’s been on their vision board for a while. This year, Mentor Nebraska established its first ever Youth Advisory Board. Made up of nine high school students from across Nebraska, the Youth Advisory Board exists to amplify youth voices and to give student leaders the opportunity to shape the vision and impact of mentoring for both the present and the future.

    As if that wasn’t cool enough, Grand Island Senior High has three student representatives serving on this landmark Youth Advisory Board. Angie, Reagan, & Zuri are more than just high school students — they’re leaders with passion.

    Angie, Reagan, & Zuri join the podcast alongside Melissa Westbrook, Mentor Nebraska Associate Director of Member Engagement & Learning, to chat about why mentoring for youth matters, and how students are saving the world.

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    GUESTS:
    Angie De Orta - GISH Junior
    Zuri Gomez Cotom - GISH Senior
    Reagan Kort - GISH Senior
    Melissa Westbrook - Mentor Nebraska Associate Director of Engagement & Learning

    HOST:
    Mitchell Roush - GIPS Communications Director

    --

    FB: facebook.com/GrandIslandPublicSchools

    https://www.gips.org/
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    34 min
  • Public Schools, The Trades, & Community Impact w/ Brian Levander

    Public Schools, The Trades, & Community Impact w/ Brian Levander
    Mar 3 2026
    “Education at its core is the essence of upward mobility… So if you have a great foundation of exploring in life and trying new things, that life will never lose its luster.”

    As a proud Islander alum of the class of 1995, Brian Levander knew he wanted a future in the trades. And that’s where his passion led him.

    Nearly 30 years later, Brian is the proud Owner & CEO of Levander’s Automotive. Operating shops in numerous states and all across Nebraska, he was intentional in building his foundation in the community that raised him… Grand Island.

    Levander joins ‘The GIPS Cast’ to share his story of working hard and finding his passion, and how communities are only as strong as their public schools and vice versa.

    Because it’s not just about working hard; it’s about building something that you’re proud of.

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    GUEST:
    Brian Levander - Owner & CEO of Levander's Automotive

    HOST:
    Mitchell Roush - GIPS Communications Director

    --

    FB: facebook.com/GrandIslandPublicSchools

    https://www.gips.org/
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    22 min
  • SkillsUSA, Robotics, & The Power of CTE at Senior High w/ Max Mendez, GISH Senior

    SkillsUSA, Robotics, & The Power of CTE at Senior High w/ Max Mendez, GISH Senior
    Jan 27 2026
    Max Mendez is a busy student.

    A Senior at Grand Island Senior High, he’s taking AP and gaining hands-on learning experiences with community partners through Senior Capstone. Max is also a leader in the GISH SkillsUSA chapter, the Nebraska State Treasurer for SkillsUSA after serving as a State Parliamentarian last year, he's in HOSA for future healthcare workers, and he’s a team leader for the Islander Robotics team.

    And that’s what makes Max’s story a meaningful one, because his story is like many others at Grand Island Senior High and at public schools across the country. It all started by him saying “yes” to get involved in a few things as a Freshman. From there he met friends, found confidence in classes, shared his ideas, and speaks in front of students and delegates (even when he's afraid).

    Because it's not just about learning; it's about empowering students to discover who they want to be.

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    GUEST:
    Max Mendez - Senior at GISH

    HOST:
    Mitchell Roush - GIPS Communications Director

    --

    FB: facebook.com/GrandIslandPublicSchools

    https://www.gips.org/
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    25 min