Public School Podcast
Public School Podcast
Podcast Description
Welcome to The Public School Podcast—where real stories, real people, and real passion foreducation come together. Hosted by Sara Hornick, Executive Director of the Public SchoolFoundation, and Bobbi Schaefbauer, Community Relations Manager for Rapid City AreaSchools, we’re diving into the heart of public education.Each episode, we sit down with community members, dedicated school staff, and passionateadvocates to ask one simple but powerful question:Why do public schools matter?From classroom wins to community-wide challenges, The Public School Podcast is yourfront-row seat to the conversations that shape our students’ futures—and our shared tomorrow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on various aspects of public education, community partnership, and advocacy. Episodes explore topics such as funding classroom innovations, addressing challenges faced by schools, and celebrating the contributions of support staff. For instance, the inaugural episode highlights the collaboration between the school foundation and the district to provide essential resources for students.

Welcome to The Public School Podcast, where real stories, real people, and real passion for
education come together. Hosted by Sara Hornick, Executive Director of the Public School
Foundation, and Bobbi Schaefbauer, Community Relations Manager for Rapid City Area
Schools, we’re diving into the heart of public education.
Each episode, we sit down with community members, dedicated school staff, and passionate
advocates to ask one simple but powerful question:
Why do public schools matter?
From classroom wins to community-wide challenges, The Public School Podcast is your
front-row seat to the conversations that shape our students’ futures and our shared tomorrow.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this thoughtful and inspiring episode of The Public School Podcast, Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer welcome Nicole Uhre-Balk, a former Rapid City teacher, public school graduate, and current South Dakota legislator, for a wide-ranging conversation about education, advocacy, and community.
Nicole shares her unconventional path into teaching (inspired by The Matrix), her journey through Rapid City schools, and how classroom experience prepared her for life in the legislature. From advocating for students and families to explaining how teachers shape democracy itself, Nicole offers a powerful reminder that public schools are more than buildings, they are the foundation of a strong society.
The episode explores the importance of communication between educators and lawmakers, how communities can better support schools, and why students and teachers continue to give her hope for the future. Honest, uplifting, and deeply rooted in service, this conversation highlights the impact educators have far beyond the classroom.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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