.jpg)
West Ada School District Podcast
The West Ada School District podcast is about informing and empowering families. Co-hosts Katie Rhodenbaugh and Ken Hyde will bring you guests and topics that will allow you to build trust with your kids and the passionate teachers that have a heart for educating them. At our core, we’re about preparing today's students for tomorrow’s challenges. Our first full episode will drop August 9, 2023. Stay tuned!
Episodes
60 episodes
Summer School Myths, Benefits & Student Voices 🎙️
In this edition of the West Ada Podcast, we’re diving into summer school and exploring how summer learning can make a lasting impact for students. We’re joined by longtime summer school teacher Holly Clayton, and Katie’s son Blake shares the st...
.jpg)
🎧 Peer Tutoring Power: How Renaissance Students Drive Academic Success
If you’re a parent considering Renaissance High School, or an educator exploring ways to improve student achievement, academic success, and peer tutoring programs, this is an episode you won’t want to miss!🏫
👉 Driving Excellence: How West Ada is Leading the Way
Statewide school rankings are in—and West Ada is excelling! 🎉📊 Learn more: https://www.idahoednews.org/top-news...
$60,000 in Prizes?! Inside West Ada’s Athletics Fundraiser 🎁🏀
In this special Pop-Up Pulse edition of the West Ada Podcast, we’re joined by Activities & Athletics Director Jason Warr and Mountain View High School baseball coach Justin Schneidt to talk all things West Ada Activities &a...
Unified Champion Schools: How West Ada is Building Belonging
In the latest episode of the West Ada Podcast, we explore the powerful impact our special education teams and Unified Champion Schools programs are having across the district.We’re joined by two outstanding leaders in West ...
🎙️ Planning for Growth: Independence Elementary and West Ada’s Boundary Updates
With the opening of Independence Elementary School in the 2026–2027 school year, West Ada School District is proactively adjusting attendance boundaries to balance enrollment and support continued student growth.In this epi...
🎧 What School Counselors Do When It Matters Most 💙
In this episode of the West Ada Podcast, Kylee Bendorf, West Ada’s Administrator of Counseling and Student Services, and Sara Jo Buffington, school counselor at Frontier and McMillan Elementary Schools, share insight into how schools sup...
🎙️ Sleep, Screens, & Student Well-Being
😴📱 Sleep and screen time play a powerful—and often underestimated—role in how children learn, behave, and feel each day. In this episode of The West Ada Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Eric Roy of St. Luke’s Children’s Treasure...
👉 Elementary PE, Family Health & West Ada Student Voices
What does meaningful physical education look like in elementary school—and how can families support healthy habits at home? 🏃♂️🧠In this episode of the West Ada Podcast 🎧, we’re joined by Tim Fulwood, Physical Education Tea...
🎶 Rocky Mountain High School Choir: Building Music, Community, and Confidence 🎶
In this special holiday episode of the West Ada School District podcast, we head to Rocky Mountain High School🎓 to spotlight the choir program—and the people who make it truly special. We’re joined by choir director Bran...
🎙️ Fueling Innovation: The Story of the West Ada Education Foundation
In this episode of the West Ada School District Podcast, we go behind the scenes of the West Ada Education Foundation (WAEF) — the nonprofit driving classroom innovation and student support across Idaho’s largest school distric...
🎙️ Behind the Scenes: Keeping West Ada Running Smoothly
If you’re a parent, student, or teacher, you might not know the people who make our schools such great places to learn. In this episode of the West Ada Podcast, we’re spotlighting the dedicated teams who keep our schools safe, clean, a...
🎙️ Student Voices Rising: West Ada Leaders on High School Life, Leadership & Navigating Social Media
In this episode of 🎧 The West Ada Podcast student leaders Ray Gauthier, ASB Co-President at Eagle High School 🦅, and Maddi Waggoner, ASB Secretary at Centennial High School 🎓, share what it’s really like to be...
🎙️ Ag Expo 2025: An Inside Look at Idaho’s Future Leaders in Agriculture
Last week’s Ag Expo was buzzing—now get the inside story on this West Ada Pulse Podcast. Experience Idaho agriculture 🌾🚜 through two lenses: early learners and emerging leaders.Sara Peltier (First Grade Teacher, Christine D...
🎙️ Starting College as a Sophomore: The Power of CTE and Concurrent Enrollment in West Ada
In this edition of the West Ada Podcast, we dive into the benefits of Career and Technical Education (CTE), FFA leadership, AP courses, and concurrent enrollment in West Ada. If college readiness, career ex...
🎙️ Instruction, Data & Test Scores: Turning Numbers Into Growth
In this episode of the West Ada Podcast, we’re diving into how the district uses data to support student learning and achievement. From classroom instruction to district-wide assessments, our leaders unpack what the numbers really mean — and ho...
🎙️ Unsung Heroes: The Impact of Paraprofessionals in West Ada
Paraprofessionals are the unsung heroes of our schools 👩🏫👨🏫 — supporting classrooms, building connections, and making a difference in students’ lives every single day. In West Ada, there are 486 special education paraprofessionals work...
🎙️ Celebrating 75 Years: A Conversation with Christine Donnell
In this special episode honoring West Ada School District’s 75th anniversary 🎉, we sit down with retired educator and former superintendent Christine Donnell — a visionary leader whose career shaped the district over 34 years. Fro...
🎒 Back to School Prep & Transportation Tips | What West Ada Families Should Know Before Day One
📚🎧 Transportation tips • Campus walkthroughs • Parent prep guide • Student safety • First-day successIn this episode, we’re joined by Lisa Hahle, West Ada’s Director of Elementary Instruction, and Miranda Carson, Director o...
🍎 Feeding Minds, Fueling Futures: West Ada's Summer Nutrition Story 🎧
The Summer Meals Pulse Podcast is here—bringing you an inside look at how West Ada School District is keeping kids fed, healthy, and ready to thrive all summer long! ☀️🍽️🎙️ Special guests: 👩💼 Anne Brock, West Ada’s Dir...
🎙️ Year-End Reflections with Dr. Derek Bub: Empowering Minds, Ensuring Excellence
📌 Description: Join us for a powerful conversation with West Ada School District Superintendent Dr. Derek Bub as we wrap up the 2024–2025 school year. In this year-end podcast, we reflect on major milestones, academic g...
🎧 New Episode – Pulse Edition: What Excellence Looks Like in West Ada
Ahead of the third annual We Are West Ada Staff Awards, we sat down with three remarkable leaders who embody the spirit of educational excellence across the district.In this special Pulse edition of the West Ada Podcast, yo...
🎙️ Ever wondered what it’s like to work in Idaho’s largest school district?
In this episode of the West Ada Podcast, we sit down with:👩💼 Renée Senander, Chief Human Resources Officer🗂️ Carolyn Olson, Substitute Placement SupervisorThey cover all the essentials for anyone interested ...
🎙️ West Ada Podcast – Pulse Edition: Exploring Opportunities at the West Ada Career Fair! 🎙️
In this Pulse Edition of the West Ada Podcast, we take you inside the West Ada Career Fair, where student teachers, out-of-state educators, and passionate professionals explored the exciting opportunities within our distric...
Building a Stronger Future: Recruitment, Retention, and Support at West Ada 🏫🌱💼
In this episode concerning Recruitment & Retention, we dive deep into how West Ada School District supports its educators and staff! 🏫✨🔑 Key topics include: • The importance of recruitment & retention in shapi...