Keller ISD Podcast Network

Every Keller ISD educator has a story to tell, and there are any number of moments and people along the way that continue to drive their passion for teaching. Reigning District Elementary Teacher of the Year Kim Harris is no exception. As she wraps up another year in the classroom, she sits down with us to share more about her background and what inspires her to give her all for students each and every day. For more information about Keller ISD, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.KellerISD.net⁠⁠⁠⁠, or follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Be sure to subscribe to this podcast to get the latest episodes, and leave us a comment to let us know what you would like us to study next time.

The most important part to a student's academic success is being present and ready to learn, and Keller ISD's Health Services Department and phenomenal school nurses work to make sure that kids are cared for and able to maximize their time while in school. Join KISD Health Services Director Jodi Webster and nurses Nicole Lee and Amy Bache as we pull back the curtain on school nursing and discover the many ways these health heroes provide support to our campuses and keep our students’ learning at the forefront.For more information about Keller ISD, visit ⁠⁠www.KellerISD.net⁠⁠, or follow us on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Be sure to subscribe to this podcast to get the latest episodes, and leave us a comment to let us know what you would like us to study next time.

Keller ISD is committed to creating and maintaining a safe and nurturing learning environment for all students, as well as a secure working environment for KISD employees. Join Dr. Johnson as we visit with the leaders of Keller ISD's safety and security efforts to learn more about just a few of the actions taken to keep kids safe. Learn more about Keller ISD Safety & Security at www.KellerISD.net/Safety. For more information about Keller ISD, visit www.KellerISD.net, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X. Be sure to subscribe to this podcast to get the latest episodes, and leave us a comment to let us know what you would like us to study next time.

In this episode of Keller ISD's "In The Interim" podcast, Director of Fine Arts Kim Blann and Director of Athletics Eric Persyn discuss their passion for providing students with opportunities to build community within their schools. We also get to hear from Fossil Ridge High School sophomore Carson Grounds who is taking advantage of every opportunity he has in high school – playing varsity football, varsity baseball, and marching in the Panther Regiment, all while taking Honors and AP courses. Join the Keller ISD Communications Department's Nicole McCollum and Bryce Nieman as they visit with these Keller ISD administrative and student leaders and dig into the extracurricular offerings that help make KISD stand out among its peers. Be sure to follow Keller ISD on social media – @KellerISD on X and Instagram and Facebook.com/KellerISD. Remember, you can find archived Keller ISD podcast episodes at www.KellerISD.net/Podcast.

Just like Keller ISD students, Keller ISD teachers and staff come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences that impact how they support students and shape the lens through which they recognize opportunities for student growth. In this episode of Westfall One-on-One, KISD Superintendent Dr. Rick Westfall chats with Eva Gutierrez, Bilingual Academic Specialist at Caprock Elementary, who shares her story of perseverance and commitment to education in the face of some extremely challenging circumstances, and how her own experience has prepared her to be a resource for the students with whom she supports. Be sure to follow Keller ISD on social media – @KellerISD on Twitter and Instagram, and Facebook.com/KellerISD, and connect with Dr. Westfall at @DrRDubKellerISD on Twitter! You can also find archived episodes at www.KellerISD.net/Podcast.

Keller ISD values the exploration and the pursuit of one’s passion that leads to personal growth. Educators in the District are constantly finding ways to connect students' interests and hobbies to learning opportunities. In this episode of Westfall One-on-One, KISD Superintendent Dr. Rick Westfall sits down with Vista Ridge Middle School 8th grader Emmanuel Tuffour who has taken his passion for sports and turned it into his own podcast with the help of his teacher, providing him invaluable experience as he explores future career paths.  Be sure to follow Keller ISD on social media – @KellerISD on Twitter and Instagram, and Facebook.com/KellerISD, and connect with Dr. Westfall at @DrRDubKellerISD on Twitter! Also, be sure to download and subscribe to Emmanuel's podcast – Tuff Talk with Tuffour. 

Keller ISD is blessed with many former students who recognize how special the District is and return to teach and work here. Whitley Road Elementary School Principal Melissa Finstad is one such student. After attending KISD K-12 – including five years at WRES as a student – Finstad is now the principal at the school and an involved member of the school's community. In the first episode of our 2022-23 season, Dr. Westfall sits down with her to learn more about her journey and the importance of being invested in local school communities.  Be sure to follow Keller ISD on social media – @KellerISD on Twitter and Instagram, and Facebook.com/KellerISD, and connect with Dr. Westfall at @DrRDubKellerISD on Twitter!

Isha Patel, a graduating senior from Fossil Ridge High School, talks to Superintendent Dr. Westfall about her journey through high school and planning for college, with the help of a recently added resource in Keller ISD – the College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) Go Center. Beginning in the fall of 2020, CCMR Coaches have provided a vital point of contact for students, as they have been a resource to whom students can speak directly and ask specific questions about college applications, essays, and scholarships or other financial aid, whether the student is a looking to attend a two or four-year college, attend a technical school, enter the military, or directly enter the workforce. Interested in learning more about CCMR resources? Visit www.KellerISD.net/CCMR. Be sure to follow Keller ISD on social media – @KellerISD on Twitter and Instagram, and Facebook.com/KellerISD, and connect with Dr. Westfall at @DrRDubKellerISD on Twitter!

Dr. Westfall chats with CFO Scott Wrehe about school finance – how it's structured, where your tax dollars go and how they are spent, the challenges school districts face, and how KISD makes the most fiscally responsible decisions possible while maintaining transparency. This is a complicated topic that you won't want to miss learning more about! Be sure to follow Keller ISD on social media – @KellerISD on Twitter and Instagram, and Facebook.com/KellerISD, and connect with Dr. Westfall at @DrRDubKellerISD on Twitter!

Dr. Westfall speaks with Director of Career and Technical Education Dr. Robert Wright in celebration of CTE Month to explain more about everything you ever wanted to know about CTE and more, the impact these programs have on our students' futures, and how our community can become more involved and benefit from this unique partnership.

Dr. Westfall sits down with Fossil Hill Middle School Instructional Support Teacher Shaunna Hanby to take a stroll down memory lane. Hanby has been in the District for 19 years, serving almost her entire tenure at FHMS. She shares about how she has had the opportunity to educate children from all over the world; bond with colleagues through periods of rapid growth, and now, through physical updates and additions to the school; and connect with former students who have now returned to FHMS as fellow educators. She is one of many who are #ThankfulinKISD and Keller ISD invites you to join her in sharing what you are thankful for this holiday season.  Be sure to follow Keller ISD on social media – @KellerISD on Twitter and Instagram, and Facebook.com/KellerISD.

Dr. Westfall is joined by Heritage Elementary School teacher Meagan McDaniel, who – along with some fellow teachers in Keller ISD's LADDER cohort – has reimagined what the elementary school experience could be like, and now they have been given the opportunity to implement their vision at HES.