BV Unmuted: Women Making History

What does it look like when Blue Valley students find their voice, follow their passions and go on to make history?

In this episode of Blue Valley Unmuted, Superintendent Dr. Gillian Chapman sits down with three exceptional guests whose stories are very different—but deeply connected by the support, opportunities and experiences that helped shape them along the way: Ash Jackson, a Blue Valley West freshman exploring the possibilities of AI, Swetha Newcomb, a graduate of Blue Valley West and James Beard Best Chef semifinalist, and Bridget Howard, a graduate of Blue Valley High breaking barriers as the first woman to appear consistently on Kansas City Royals broadcasts.

You’ll hear how a middle school coding class first sparked Ash’s curiosity about AI, how Swetha’s love of cooking began in her mother’s kitchen before growing into a celebrated restaurant and how Bridget discovered early on that storytelling and sports could become a powerful career path. Their journeys are different in focus, but each one reflects the same idea: when students are encouraged to explore their interests, amazing things can happen.

But the heart of the episode is what helped them get there:

• Teachers who noticed talent and opened doors.
• School experiences that gave students the confidence to take risks, trust their voice and try something new.
• A sense of belonging and support that helped each guest grow into who they are today.

If you’ve ever wondered how today’s students become tomorrow’s innovators, entrepreneurs and trailblazers, this episode is a powerful reminder that the path often starts with one teacher, one opportunity and one voice willing to say yes. It’s a celebration of women making history—and of the Blue Valley community helping make those journeys possible.

Transcript

00:00:00:11 - 00:00:09:04
Blue Valley Teacher
I love Blue Valley because I feel a lot of support. It's a great community.

00:00:09:06 - 00:00:15:15
Blue Valley Teacher
We are a people that believe in excellence, that believe in constantly striving for more.

00:00:15:17 - 00:00:26:03
Blue Valley Student
I think that there is a lot of opportunities that I would have never explored on my own, and all of the teachers and staff here at Blue Valley make everything so much easier and more accessible.

00:00:26:03 - 00:01:01:22
Dr. Gillian Chapman
Hello. Welcome to Blue Valley unmuted. I'm Gillian Chapman, the proud superintendent of Blue Valley Schools. Thanks for joining us today as we highlight two Blue Valley alumni and one current student who are setting records and making history in their fields. Joining me in today's conversation are Ash Jackson, Blue Valley West freshman Sweta Newcomb, a Blue Valley West graduate and owner and chef of, of course, and Bridgette Howard at Blue Valley High graduate and a broadcaster for the Kansas City Royals.

00:01:01:23 - 00:01:27:12
Dr. Gillian Chapman
Thank you all for being here today. I'm excited to learn more about each of you and what led you to where you are today. But I think we first need to share with listeners a little bit about your recent accomplishments. Ash, you were recently featured in Times Architect in Eye article sweater. You were recently named a James Beard Best Chef semifinalist for your restaurant.

00:01:27:12 - 00:01:47:20
Dr. Gillian Chapman
Of course. And Bridget, you're breaking barriers by becoming the first woman to appear consistently on the Royals broadcast in the history of the franchise. First, congratulate to all of you for these outstanding accomplishments. Ash, I'd like to start with you. What got you interested in AI?

00:01:47:23 - 00:02:11:09
Ash Jackson
My coding teacher in seventh grade told us that like because I make characters and so I use AI as part of my progress, sometimes not as much anymore, but I started as a way to envision the characters that I create. And my teacher told us that we had an opportunity. So that's.

00:02:11:09 - 00:02:16:23
Dr. Gillian Chapman
Fantastic. And tell us what your teacher's name is. So we can do a little shout out there.

00:02:16:23 - 00:02:18:16
Ash Jackson
Mr. Grind staff.

00:02:18:18 - 00:02:32:14
Dr. Gillian Chapman
You've had the unique experience of being recognized for your work in AI at a young age, and I'm sure you've had the opportunity to continue learning about it. Has your perspective on AI changed since you started?

00:02:32:16 - 00:03:02:07
Ash Jackson
Yes, it's actually changed a lot because I'm part of a pretty big art community online. I don't share as much art, but I do like looking at our online and using it as inspiration. So throughout my time kind of in the online art community, I've noticed that a lot of people try to pass off AI as actual people's art and try to receive the same credit for a less amount of work.

00:03:02:12 - 00:03:05:12
Ash Jackson
Using AI as a catalyst.

00:03:05:16 - 00:03:14:07
Dr. Gillian Chapman
Interesting. So as you look to the future, what kind of impact do you hope to have, whether in the world of AI or elsewhere?

00:03:14:07 - 00:03:27:00
Ash Jackson
I'm actually right now trying to pick out classes to become a marine biologist or a biologist in general, and I just want to help animals, which is why I want to become a biologist.

00:03:27:02 - 00:03:35:05
Dr. Gillian Chapman
That's fantastic. As a current student, what kind of support have you felt from your teachers while exploring what your interests are?

00:03:35:07 - 00:03:55:13
Ash Jackson
My teachers have helped me when it comes to planning my schedule and taking out classes that can help me, like with specialized classes for like a specific field or like just for biology in general. So I have classes that will help me in courses I want to take in the future.

00:03:55:15 - 00:04:02:13
Dr. Gillian Chapman
Great. Thank you. Sweater. Could you tell us how did you become interested in the culinary arts?

00:04:02:16 - 00:04:24:11
Swetha Newcomb
That's my favorite question because I want to give a big shout out to my mom. It really all started in her kitchen. I was very much obsessed with watching her cook fresh meals every night from scratch. And you know, when you're raised eating the same food every day, you kind of take that for granted. So I did I did kind of take a break from Indian food all throughout college and stuff.

00:04:24:11 - 00:04:35:01
Swetha Newcomb
And then when I moved back in with them for a little bit, that's kind of when I reconnected with my love for cooking. So kudos to my mom. She's the reason I'm doing what I'm doing today.

00:04:35:03 - 00:04:44:23
Dr. Gillian Chapman
Isn't that amazing? I'm sure that that story just warms warms her heart. Can you tell us about your journey to opening? Of course.

00:04:45:01 - 00:05:04:21
Swetha Newcomb
Yes. So it was it was kind of a crazy pivot there. I want to call you and got a bachelor's degree in communications and business, and I just did not ever see myself pursuing the culinary arts because it wasn't as big of an option for females back when I was, you know, trying to figure out what I wanted to do.

00:05:04:21 - 00:05:22:16
Swetha Newcomb
So I set that dream aside. And then I met my husband senior year of college, and he could tell I was starting to freak out a little bit, that real life was around the corner. And I wasn't, you know, satisfied with all the choices that I've made in my career path. So he was the one who pushed me to pursue going to culinary school.

00:05:22:16 - 00:05:31:14
Swetha Newcomb
I did the program at Johnson County, and then after that I became a private chef. And then we opened, of course, five years later.

00:05:31:16 - 00:05:37:00
Dr. Gillian Chapman
For listeners who have never been to. Of course. Can you tell us about the concept of your restaurant?

00:05:37:04 - 00:06:03:03
Swetha Newcomb
Yes. So of course, is a play on words for courses of food. And that phrase is used a lot in the service industry. I like to mash a lot of South Asian ingredients with what is really popular in the Midwest. So for example, we've got these black, cardamom smoked burnt ends. We took a classic Midwestern dish. You know, barbecue is huge in Kansas City, and we braised them in Indian spices and tossed them with an Indian curry.

00:06:03:05 - 00:06:09:14
Swetha Newcomb
And they were just on the New York Times, actually. So that dish is a really good example of what we do here.

00:06:09:16 - 00:06:16:15
Dr. Gillian Chapman
That's fantastic. This sounds delicious. Now my stomach is growling. How did you come up with the name? Of course.

00:06:16:19 - 00:06:34:23
Swetha Newcomb
So it's a play on words. Four courses of food. A lot of people don't understand that at first, so maybe I should have picked an easier name. But I just was thinking in terms of service industry. People say, of course a lot as.

00:06:34:23 - 00:06:38:11
Dr. Gillian Chapman
Well and tell us where is of course located.

00:06:38:16 - 00:06:44:00
Swetha Newcomb
159th and 69 highway. We are in a new shopping complex called Blue Hawk.

00:06:44:02 - 00:06:59:21
Dr. Gillian Chapman
Wonderful. So I'd like to shift gears and talk about your experience in Blue Valley schools. Are there any experiences from your time in Blue Valley, either inside or outside of school, that really stand out as shaping who you are today?

00:07:00:00 - 00:07:28:09
Swetha Newcomb
Yes, I think growing up, I mean, I'm a first generation immigrant and growing up in a predominantly white part of the United States, it was really hard for me to I was having a little bit of an identity crisis, but I always felt like I belonged Apple Valley West. I felt really safe there, and I know a lot of my Indian friends did not have the same experience at their high schools, so I'm extremely grateful for that.

00:07:28:11 - 00:07:45:04
Swetha Newcomb
And every time I think back to my childhood, I'm I have only amazing memories from from the Valley West, and we actually live in that area. And my son will be going there. So it's it's really it's really cool that we've we've kind of stuck around and I can't wait to see him there.

00:07:45:06 - 00:07:49:21
Dr. Gillian Chapman
Sure. And your restaurants right in the area. So then that's fantastic.

00:07:49:23 - 00:07:56:20
Swetha Newcomb
Yeah. You know, you don't think you're going to open your business up across the street from where you went to high school. But I'm okay with that.

00:07:56:20 - 00:08:08:09
Dr. Gillian Chapman
Well, you know, you have a lot of a lot of students nearby and their families. So I think it makes sense that there are moments in high school that helped shape your interest in the culinary world.

00:08:08:13 - 00:08:23:16
Swetha Newcomb
Oh my gosh, yes. That's that's where I took my first cooking classes. I remember I finished all of them maybe by sophomore year, and I kept thinking, what am I going to do now I can? I asked if I could take them again because I love them so much, but but that is that is where my love started.

00:08:23:19 - 00:08:31:02
Dr. Gillian Chapman
And was there someone, maybe a teacher or a mentor while in high school or while in Blue Valley schools who really supported you?

00:08:31:04 - 00:08:52:07
Swetha Newcomb
Yes, I have mom brain, so you guys are going to have to look this up for me if you can't. But she was the culinary teacher at Blue Valley West. But but she was great. I know she was there for a very long time. And we. That's actually where I made my first pie. I know we talked about our favorite dessert earlier, so I hope I hope she's still there.

00:08:52:07 - 00:08:53:15
Swetha Newcomb
Who knows, she might be.

00:08:53:17 - 00:09:02:22
Dr. Gillian Chapman
Well, we will definitely look it up and let her know that she got a shout out. And maybe she'll come in and visit you in your restaurant. Of course.

00:09:04:06 - 00:09:13:19
Dr. Gillian Chapman
That would be awesome. Were there any experiences in Blue Valley that really helped you develop skills or traits that you still carry with you today? Yeah.

00:09:13:19 - 00:09:38:08
Swetha Newcomb
So I was the school TV show producer of Blue Valley. I did go to Blue Valley Southwest for the first year that I was opened. So I was the producer there for a year. And that that was when that was really my creative outlet, because I was done with all the culinary classes and I got to do some really awesome stuff there with Mr. Cortez.

00:09:38:08 - 00:09:58:17
Swetha Newcomb
He's such an amazing teacher, and since we were the first ones to open up that school, we got to pick all the equipment we wanted. So we had these large screen cameras and we're taking cool shots outside, and we probably would have bought a drone if those existed back then. But the shout out to Mr. Cortez, that was a that was a fun class.

00:09:58:17 - 00:10:10:17
Dr. Gillian Chapman
It sounds like it. And what a treat to get to open a school and and to pick out all the equipment. That's really very neat. I would have picked out anything pink. So and if you were a senior, you would know that I'm wearing all pink.

00:10:10:21 - 00:10:16:05
Swetha Newcomb
I love that, yes. So Wolf by TV is what it's called. And I got to pick that name.

00:10:16:06 - 00:10:19:19
Dr. Gillian Chapman
Nice, nice. See, your legacy lives on.

00:10:19:21 - 00:10:21:10
Swetha Newcomb
I guess.

00:10:21:12 - 00:10:29:15
Dr. Gillian Chapman
Bridget, let's turn to you. When did you first realize being a sports host and sideline reporter was what you wanted to do?

00:10:29:16 - 00:10:46:23
Bridget Howard
Yeah, for me, it really started in high school. I always loved talking and I especially loved talking about sports, so it just felt like a natural fit for me. Once I realized that there was an actual career path where I could combine those two things being on camera, telling stories in the sports world, it really clicked early for me.

00:10:46:23 - 00:10:54:09
Bridget Howard
And so from that point on, I started looking for every opportunity to build experience and figure out how to turn that passion into a career.

00:10:54:11 - 00:11:08:14
Dr. Gillian Chapman
Well, what a unique opportunity to break barriers in the sports world by becoming the first woman to appear consistently on the Royals broadcast in the history of the franchise, what has that experience been like for you so far?

00:11:08:18 - 00:11:33:23
Bridget Howard
It's been incredibly rewarding and honestly, something I don't take lightly. There's definitely a sense of responsibility that comes with it, but also a lot of pride and at the same time, I'm just really proud of the fact that I earned this role because of my work and the job that I do, not just because I'm a woman. I've been fortunate to be surrounded by a team with the Royals that really values preparation, storytelling and professionalism first.

00:11:33:23 - 00:11:46:09
Bridget Howard
And while all of that is really important to me, I'm also very aware of the bigger picture and that visibility matters. And if I can help open doors or make this space feel more accessible for other women, that means a lot to me.

00:11:46:11 - 00:11:53:13
Dr. Gillian Chapman
And that's a perfect segue into my next question. What advice would you give to young women who want to work in sports?

00:11:53:16 - 00:12:11:16
Bridget Howard
Well, for starters, I would say don't wait for permission. Just start where you are and take every opportunity to get reps that you can, whether that's creating your own content with your iPhone, working behind the scenes, or reaching out to people in the industry, it all adds up in its own unique way. And also, don't be afraid to be yourself.

00:12:11:16 - 00:12:34:07
Bridget Howard
There's room for different voices in this space, and authenticity is what ultimately sets you apart and makes you different from others to help you get certain jobs. And I'd also say one of my favorite quotes is be where your feet are. Enjoy each step of your journey. It's easy to focus on what's next and look forward. But there's so much value in just fully embracing where you are and growing through each stage.

00:12:34:09 - 00:12:47:10
Dr. Gillian Chapman
Thank you. That's a great quote. Switching to talking about your experience in Blue Valley. You were part of the Caps program. What strand did you participate in and how did those experiences prepare you for your job with the Royals?

00:12:47:14 - 00:13:13:11
Bridget Howard
Yeah, so I don't remember the exact strand, but I know it was broadcast communications and it really was such a foundational experience for me. It gave me early exposure to professional environments and real world expectations, and that helped build both my confidence and my skill set. I think also just being a part of that, I learned how to communicate, collaborate and really just take ownership of projects at such a young age.

00:13:13:11 - 00:13:17:08
Bridget Howard
And that's really translated directly into what I do now on a daily basis.

00:13:17:10 - 00:13:23:22
Dr. Gillian Chapman
Were there other experiences in high school that that helped shape build your confidence in pursuing this career?

00:13:24:02 - 00:13:45:22
Bridget Howard
Absolutely. I think just saying yes to opportunities early on made a huge difference for me, whether it was, you know, presentations or group projects or anything that really pushed me a little bit outside of my comfort zone. Those moments really helped me get comfortable being uncomfortable, which is such a big part of broadcasting in this industry. So over time, I think that just builds confidence and you start to trust your voice and your ability to show up.

00:13:45:22 - 00:13:48:23
Bridget Howard
And I've seen that pay off in my career.

00:13:49:01 - 00:14:16:23
Dr. Gillian Chapman
Trusting your voice is really powerful, and I think I heard a little bit of that in each one of your comments today. It's really powerful hearing how those early experience aces shaped all of you. Ash, as you think you're a freshman in high school, although it's probably not, doesn't sound like to our listeners that you could possibly be a freshman, but what advice would you give to middle school students and thinking about your path so far?

00:14:17:03 - 00:14:40:22
Ash Jackson
I would say take every opportunity you can because I know that I've personally tried out for a lot. And even if you don't make it, that's not a reason to give up on something. If you really want to do something, you can show the person in charge the people who are going to pick that you really want to do it by continuing to try and trying to find other ways to get involved and stay involved.

00:14:41:00 - 00:14:44:01
Dr. Gillian Chapman
Excellent advice. How about you, Bridget?

00:14:44:05 - 00:15:03:13
Bridget Howard
I think for me, one of the biggest things you know, that I mentioned earlier is just to be where your feet are. It's so easy to get caught up in what's next year. Where are you going to go to college, your career, the next opportunity. But there's real value in just fully investing where you are right now, the classes that you're in, the programs that you're a part of, the people that are around you, those are all building blocks.

00:15:03:13 - 00:15:19:23
Bridget Howard
So when you're present, I think you grow more and you learn more and you actually enjoy the process a lot more. And then at the same time, I also really believe that luck favors the prepared. The opportunities will come for you sometimes when you least expect them, but it's really what you've done beforehand that determines if you're ready for them.

00:15:19:23 - 00:15:32:03
Bridget Howard
So just take advantage of everything you have access to, and blue Valley. Say yes to opportunities and put in the work. Now that way, when the door opens for you, you're not just hoping for a chance. You're ready to walk right through it.

00:15:32:05 - 00:15:36:11
Dr. Gillian Chapman
Excellent. And sweater. How about you? What advice would you give?

00:15:36:12 - 00:15:55:10
Swetha Newcomb
I love what Bridget said. I think just just knowing that you are in good hands, you're in one of the best districts in the world, and that there's so much support around you to take advantage of the resources that you have. And I think I'm a good example of being a little bit confused, trying the traditional route. And and it didn't work out for me.

00:15:55:10 - 00:16:03:06
Swetha Newcomb
And that's okay because I'm good now. So so always, always follow your dreams. And it doesn't always have to be what everyone else is doing around you.

00:16:03:07 - 00:16:25:14
Dr. Gillian Chapman
Thank you. I think what's especially meaningful for our listeners is seeing how these early experiences in Blue Valley helped shape where you are today. It's a great reminder that the opportunities and support students have now can really turn into something bigger down the road. Thank you again to all three of you for being here and for sharing your stories.

00:16:25:16 - 00:16:30:07
Dr. Gillian Chapman
And thank you to our listeners for joining us today. Have a great day. Blue Valley.