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.
Rapid City Area Schools Teacher of the Year Katey Swank thought she had it all figured out when she walked into her first classroom. By the end of day one, she was sitting in a tiny chair trying not to cry.
Then someone showed up for her.
Twenty years later, Katey shares how that simple act of support helped shape the teacher, mentor and colleague she would become. From the educators who helped her find her footing to the students who discovered they could help each other grow, Katey reflects on why collaboration is about much more than meetings, committees or programs.
It’s about people.
In this special episode of the Public School Podcast, Katey shares a powerful message about belonging, teacher retention, community and the relationships that keep educators going when the work gets hard. And she leaves all of us with one question worth carrying into the school year: Who will you show up for?
Photo Credit: Jesse Brown Nelson, BHFCU’s School Support Drive
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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