Future Ready: Put Your Phone To Bed

Join Spokane Public Schools' Superintendent Adam Swinyard and Executive Director of Athletics Stephanie Slater as they tackle one of the biggest challenges facing today's students: getting quality sleep. In this inaugural episode of the Future Ready podcast, they explore how excessive screen time and late-night phone use are disrupting students' sleep patterns and impacting their academic performance and behavior.

The episode features insights from Dr. Anne Mason, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and Acting Dean at WSU College of Nursing, who breaks down age-appropriate sleep guidelines and explains the connection between daytime activities and nighttime rest. Rogers High School Principal John Hamill shares how the district's "Engage IRL" (In Real Life) initiative has successfully reduced phone dependence in schools and is now extending into healthy sleep habits at home.

Key topics include practical tips for establishing phone-free bedrooms, the importance of sleep routines, and how families can work together to create healthy boundaries around technology use. This episode is part of Spokane Public Schools' broader effort to prepare students for success by addressing fundamental wellness needs that impact learning, behavior, and mental health.

Perfect for parents, educators, and anyone interested in supporting student well-being in our increasingly digital world.