The One Podcast - Momence Schools
Craig Williams, with Journey12.com, will be the host for your very own Momence Schools Podcast, titled, “The One.” Each month, we sit down with key players and game-changers from within the Momence School Community and talk about the things that matter to all of us, but especially to the outcomes of our kids. Momence is a remarkable school community and, as we’ve spoken to many in the community, one thing becomes eminently clear, you have each other’s back. And everyone in this community seems to be a part of that. And just as you’re a part of this school community, we also want to invite you to be a part of this Podcast, so, if you’ve got an idea or suggestion, let’s talk. Reach out to us at Info@journey12.com.
Episodes
24 episodes
Orbert Davis, Jazz Trumpeter on the Genius of Social Symphony
Today’s episode of The One takes us deep into the rhythm of resilience, vision, and heart. I had the great privilege of sitting down with Orbert Davis — jazz trumpeter, composer, arranger, educator, and proud alumnus of Momence Schools...
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Season 2
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47:39
The Art of Life: Tomlyn Brza
From graduating college at the height of a global pandemic to becoming an educator, a soccer coach, and an exhibiting artist, Tomlyn Brza has carved out a path that blends creativity, leadership, and a deep commitment to students. Whether she’s...
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Season 2
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32:53
Paying the Bills, Powering Schools: A Conversation with Helen Giba
Today, we’re taking a look behind the scenes at one of the most essential roles in keeping Momence Schools running smoothly. Often, when we think about the people who make a school function, we think about teachers, coaches, principals, and...
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Season 2
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33:50
Fifth Grade: The 3D Team
Welcome to The One, Momence Schools' podcast where we dive into the remarkable stories shaping our students, educators, and the community. I’m Craig Williams, publisher of The One magazine, and today’s episode takes us inside the classroom to m...
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Season 2
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36:08
Madison Meyer - Ag, FFA, and the Worlds Beyond
I’m excited to introduce you to Madison Meyer, the Agriculture teacher and FFA advisor here at Momence Schools. Madison’s passion for agriculture education goes beyond the farm. She’s committed to fostering leadership, inclusion, and opportunit...
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Season 2
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40:45
Jodi Tobias, Empathy-Rich Interventionist
Today I am excited to introduce you to Jodi Tobias, an interventionist with Momence Schools. Jodi’s story is one of deep empathy, expertise, and an unwavering commitment to ensuring that every child has the support they need to thrive. In her r...
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Season 2
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44:06
Joey Baud Teaches Kindergartners to Swing for the Fences
Today, we have the privilege of sitting down with Joey Baud, a man whose journey from the baseball diamond to the kindergarten classroom has redefined what it means to be a teacher in Momence. Joey is not just any educator—he's a man who embodi...
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Season 2
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38:53
Dr. Lynette Thrasher: For The Greater Good
I'm honored to bring you a conversation with a truly inspiring figure in the field of education. Dr. Lynette Thrasher, the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment for the Momence School District, is a beacon of innovation and dedica...
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Season 2
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52:44
Matt Kelley and KACC: Helping Students Match Hard Work to Opportunity
Over the past, nearly two years, I have had a unique line of sight into the lives of dozens of Momence students, their teachers, administrators, coaches, and volunteers. I’ve spoken to young readers, athletes, scientists, and kids who’ve alread...
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Season 2
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56:11
Megan Barnett, Meditation to AP English: Making an Impact
I have a profound appreciation for the work of educators. I’ve met enough of them to know that they are not perfect human beings but, as a group, they make an incredible contribution to the quality of our communities and to life itself. Through...
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Season 2
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42:12
Dr. Ashley Luft, A Purposeful Life
Today I sit down with Dr. Ashley Luft, a board member with the Momence School District, a former teacher in the district and the current Director of Student Retention at Olivet Nazarene University. She has dedicated her professional life to the...
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Season 2
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29:55
Amanda Cantwell is Paving the Road to Success Through Occupational Therapy
Today, I have the privilege of sitting down with Amanda Cantwell, our district’s Occupational Therapist. when I interviewed Amanda’s son, Gaven, last Spring for our Summer 23 issue of the Momence One magazine, I might have known that he had a p...
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Season 2
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30:40
Kelly Handley: Shaping the Future
It is always an honor to sit down with educators and others committed to helping our children make the most of their potential. Momence is loaded with people like this. People who volunteer their time for a whole range of support of our youth, ...
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Season 2
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39:27
All-in on Momence: Lucas Bielecki
Today, I sit down with Lucas Bielecki and I couldn’t be happier about it. When Mr. Anderson made the introduction, and explained that Lucas was a Momence product, I had already had a brief opportunity to meet with him as an interview subject fo...
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Season 1
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40:05
Oraia Jaramillo: The Language of Connection
Today, I’m honored to bring you an insightful conversation with someone who truly lives and breathes this transformative power of language—Oraia Jaramillo. Serving dual roles as a High School Spanish teacher and the Director of the Bilingual Pr...
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Season 1
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37:14
Ryan Drenth on Teaching: Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts
Today, I have the pleasure of speaking with Mr. Ryan Drenth, 6th grade math teacher at Momence Junior High School. But Ryan is a man who devotes time and energy in several other important ways to the development of our young people, as you’ll l...
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Season 1
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36:53
Alexis Johnson: Well-Wishing and Bridge-Building
Today, we hear from someone who is shaping young lives at Je-Neir Elementary—Alexis Johnson. Like other professional educators in the Momence District we’ve spoken with, Alexis is building bridges for learning through the power of relationship....
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Season 1
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31:54
A Versatile Voice for Education: Frank Petkunas, Regional Superintendent, Iroquois and Kankakee Counties
Today, I have the pleasure of speaking with Frank Petkunas, the Regional Superintendent for Iroquois and Kankakee Counties. As the head of the Regional Office of Education, Frank plays an important role in the delivery of a range of services wi...
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Season 1
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34:01
Jack Richards, Principal of Momence High School and Master Relationship Builder
In this episode, I have the opportunity to speak with a man who worked with students in, perhaps, one of the most challenging environments in the country. Before he came to Momence, Jack Richards taught in an Alaskan community where the only pa...
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Season 1
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45:31
Kristi Porter: Start small, finish big—the undeniable implications of Pre-K education
School is out, baseball and grilling are in full swing, and our summertime rituals have us about as far away from the day-to-day, kids-to-school rituals as they could have us. And yet, speaking with educators, the lives they lead, and the impac...
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Season 1
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26:48
Ted Petersen: Hard Work, Community, and A Little Encouragement
Today, you’ll hear from someone who has been shaped by the Momence community in profound and fundamental ways. From his work ethic to his love for community, Ted Petersen credits Momence for the incredible journey he’s had in sport, in life, an...
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Season 1
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32:42
Reading is Foundational: Sandi Trubach, Reading Specialist Extraordinaire
Today, I have the privilege of speaking with a remarkable educator who makes a difference in the lives of young people every day, as a reading specialist. Sandi Trubach is one of those educators who not only has a heart for teaching and for the...
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Season 1
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33:54
A Trajectory of Doing Right and of Legacy: John Cherry
“Doing right by kids” is something many of us would certainly identify as a worthy target, but not all of us are able to lay claim to the daily level of commitment to that notion we see from educators. In that simple act, doing right by kids, t...
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Season 1
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23:31
A conversation with Superintendent Shannon Anderson
Today, I have the privilege of speaking with a professional educator who has been making those kinds of differences in individual lives for more than a quarter of a century. He has taught in widely ranging environments, has served in several un...
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Season 1
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46:55
