Épisodes

  • From Classroom to Clinics: Inside the GISH Medical Academy w/ Greg Schlegel

    From Classroom to Clinics: Inside the GISH Medical Academy w/ Greg Schlegel
    Sep 10 2025
    "The more we can connect school to careers, pathways, and skills that that students will one day enter into, the more kids are going to be engaged in school."

    Over 600 students, nearly a quarter of the current GISH student body, are in the Academy of Medical Sciences & Education.

    As the Academy with the largest enrollment, curating Medical Sciences and Education experiences is a big job. Mr. Greg Schlegel leads that Academy as Principal alongside his team of Counselors and Educators.

    With 19 years in Public Education under his belt, and serving as the GISH Medical Academy Principal since its launch — Mr. Schlegel has become a consistent voice advocating for new and innovative work-based learning experiences for students.

    Mr. Schlegel joins The GIPS Cast to discuss:


    • Community partners that help shape student experiences
    • The importance of Career-Technical Education
    • How Islander students are finishing high school ahead of the curve


    Because it's about providing real-world opporutnities for students to discover not just what they want to do but who they want to be.

    --

    GUEST:
    Greg Schlegel - GISH Academy of Medical Sciences & Education Principal

    HOST:
    Mitchell Roush - GIPS Communications Director

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    FB: facebook.com/GrandIslandPublicSchools

    https://www.gips.org/
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    42 min
  • Staffing Updates for 2025-26 w/ Matt Fisher & Brian Kort

    Staffing Updates for 2025-26 w/ Matt Fisher & Brian Kort
    Aug 5 2025
    Our students are the “why”; Our Educators are the “How”.

    That’s a sentiment our Superintendent, Mr. Fisher, repeats often. Our students are the “why”; our educators are the “how”.

    For this podcast conversation, we go deeper on the “how” of it all — specifically, the efforts GIPS are putting into staffing and district culture.

    Embarking on the start of the 2025-26 school year, GIPS finds itself on more solid ground in the ways of staffing than we have in recent years. Matt Fisher, GIPS Superintendent, and Brian Kort, GIPS Recruiting & Retention Coordinator, join the podcast to share about the positive momentum we’re seeing for staffing, and what we’re focusing on for staff support going forward.

    Along the way, they discuss better staff retention, hiring success for new educators, and launching a new program designed to empower our support staff to become fully certified teachers.

    Because it's about continuing to find the best teachers to fill our classrooms AND to keep the great people we already have.

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    GUESTS:
    Matt Fisher - GIPS Superintendent
    Brian Kort - GIPS Recruiting & Retention Coordinator

    HOST:
    Mitchell Roush - GIPS Communications Director

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    FB: facebook.com/GrandIslandPublicSchools

    https://www.gips.org/
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    34 min
  • Making Math Curriculum Count w/ Dr. Danielle Buhrman, Andrea Hermance, & Danielle Dudo

    Making Math Curriculum Count w/ Dr. Danielle Buhrman, Andrea Hermance, & Danielle Dudo
    Jul 22 2025
    "We have to be analyzers and problem solvers. So the 'how' that we're trying to create [with math] really help support teachers in the experiences we need to put in front of kids so that they [students] are having to grapple with that a little bit."

    Math deserves a better reputation.

    Dr. Buhrman, GIPS Math Curriculum & Academic Coach Coordinator, is on a mission to give Math the spotlight it deserves. And it starts in every GIPS classroom featuring Math education with one simple concept: We Are Mathematicians.

    But she’s not along in that mission. Dr. Buhrman is supported by a number of incredible teachers across the district to help champion math education making it meaningful and enriching for all students.

    And that’s where we enter the conversation.

    Dr. Buhrman and two other Math-minded Elementary Educators, Danielle Dudo & Andrea Hermance, join The GPS Cast to share the details on our upcoming Math curriculum pilot, how the district is navigating the need to update Math materials, and why GIPS is committed to give Math a better reputation.

    Because it's all about teaching students that everything is figure-out-able.

    --

    GUESTS:
    Dr. Danielle Buhrman - GIPS Math Curriculum & Academic Coach Coordinator
    Andrea Hermance - Lincoln Elementary Academic Support Coach
    Danielle Dudo - Newell Elementary 3rd Grade Teacher

    HOST:
    Mitchell Roush - GIPS Communications Director

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    FB: facebook.com/GrandIslandPublicSchools

    https://www.gips.org/
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    42 min
  • Making History Thru Inclusion with Unified Track & Field w/ Andrea Hill

    Making History Thru Inclusion with Unified Track & Field w/ Andrea Hill
    Jun 17 2025
    "I see [our students] building long, lasting friendships, a sense of belonging to something very special; boosting their self confidence. Each one of my athletes and partners together, they value each other's talents and skills."

    Andrea Hill has been leading the Unified Track & Field Team for seven years at Grand Island Senior High, and, well, she’s on a mission. And she’s got the whole school and the whole GIPS district behind her.

    Coach Hill has been a fierce advocate for student inclusion, empathy, and connection through the medium of Unified athletics. In those seven years, the student athletes and student partners on the GISH Unified Track Team has broken new ground as Unified sports has grown across Nebraska.

    Most notably, for the first time in school and state history, the GISH Girls Unified Track & Field Team brought home a sweep of Gold Medals in all four events at the NSAA State Meet.

    Coach Hill joins 'The GIPS Cast' to share her passion for Unified sports and where she sees the GISH Unified Track & Field Team continuing to make history.

    Because when we lean into inclusion, everyone wins.

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    GUEST:
    Andrea Hill - GISH Unified Track & Field Coach

    HOST:
    Mitchell Roush - GIPS Communications Director

    --

    FB: facebook.com/GrandIslandPublicSchools

    https://www.gips.org/
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    41 min
  • Active Learning in 2nd Grade w/ Mrs. Thornton

    Active Learning in 2nd Grade w/ Mrs. Thornton
    Jun 4 2025
    "Number one for me is building relationships with my students... That right there is my number one classroom strategy — just building relationships and having conversation with my students."

    Mrs. Kari Thornton has been teaching 2nd Grade at Engleman Elementary for 16 years.

    Every year Mrs. Thornton aim to make the learning in her classroom an active experience for her students. Which means building opportunities for students to interact with their classmates with a clear prompt, or students moving to different parts of the classroom for conduct different steps of the learning activities, or partnering for a creative project, and so much more.

    It may sound, well active, but it’s all intentional. Each prompt, each activity, each engagement designed to help reach all students.

    Mrs. Thornton joins 'The GIPS Cast' to share how her approach to teaching seeks to keep learning fun and engaging.

    Because it's all about helping students learn and lean into a growth mindset.

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    GUEST:
    Kari Thornton - 2nd Grade Teacher, Engleman Elementary

    HOST:
    Mitchell Roush - GIPS Communications Director

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    FB: facebook.com/GrandIslandPublicSchools

    https://www.gips.org/
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    22 min
  • Helping Students Find Their Voice Thru Middle School Speech w/ Kathryn Zeller

    Helping Students Find Their Voice Thru Middle School Speech w/ Kathryn Zeller
    May 14 2025
    "We do it [teach] because we care and we want to raise really great humans to make a really great world."

    It’s not just an activity — it’s students finding their voice and finding.

    At least, that’s what Mrs. Zeller will tell you.

    Kathryn Zeller has been a teacher at Westridge Middle School for a number of years. And anyone who’s stepped into her classroom will tell you — she’s passionate, she’s creative, and she will find a way to reach every student.

    That’s the common theme for Mrs. Zeller’s passion project — the Westridge Middle School Speech Team.

    Mrs. Zeller joins 'The GIPS Cast' to share why Middle School Speech is deeply connected to helping students discover who they are and how to share themselves confidently with the world.

    Throughout the conversation, Mrs. Zeller shares her focus of giving students a chance to participate in something; helping them find a sense of belonging at school; and having fun.

    A few Westridge students — Kingleigh, Kyra, & Grace — pop-in to share their voices and experiences too. All of it, of course, rooted making friends and crafting cool speeches along the way.

    Because it all comes back to fostering creativity and empowering student voices.

    --

    GUESTS:
    Kathryn Zeller - Teacher & Speech Coach, Westridge Middle School
    Kingleigh, Kyra, & Grace - Westridge 8th Graders & Speech-ers

    HOST:
    Mitchell Roush - GIPS Communications Director

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    FB: facebook.com/GrandIslandPublicSchools

    https://www.gips.org/
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    22 min
  • Building a Culture of Consistency for Student Athletes w/ Coach Pat Doyle

    Building a Culture of Consistency for Student Athletes w/ Coach Pat Doyle
    Apr 24 2025
    "The weight room is just an avenue for how we prepare kids for life."

    Coach Pat Doyle is the Strength and Conditioning Coach at GISH. He’s also the Islander Powerlifting Coach. With over 700 athletes coming through his weight room and working with the strength staff, Coach Doyle has a lot going on.

    How does he balance it all? Consistency.

    He joins 'The GIPS Cast' to share why he has the best job in the world.

    In just five short years, Coach Doyle — with support of the GISH Administration and the Activities Office — has brought the strength and conditioning program to new heights. They’ve developed and opened a renovated weightroom which is one of the nicest facilities of its kind in the state. He’s built strong relationships with student athletes and the program Coaches to cultivate a culture of expectations and excellence. He’s launched both a Boys and Girls Powerlifting Teams who’ve earned State Championships and National recognition. And, recently, he earned a state coach of the year honor from NHSSCA.

    Because, for the Islanders, it all comes back to consistency.


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    GUEST:
    Pat Doyle - GISH Strength & Conditioning and Power Lifting Coach

    HOST:
    Mitchell Roush - GIPS Communications Director

    --

    FB: facebook.com/GrandIslandPublicSchools

    https://www.gips.org/
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    32 min
  • Empowering Beautiful Connections with GlamourGals w/ Alexia, Isabel, Katherin, & Angie

    Empowering Beautiful Connections with GlamourGals w/ Alexia, Isabel, Katherin, & Angie
    Apr 9 2025
    "It brings me joy to spread the joy."

    Students are changing the world, and they’re making it happen through the power of connection.

    And that’s where we meet Alexia Nunez, a Sophomore at Grand Island Senior High and the President of the GISH chapter of 'GlamourGals'.

    'GlamourGals' is a national organization that empowers teenagers to make intergenerational connections with folks at Retirement Homes and Assisted Living Facilities thru painting nails and conversations.

    Alexia shares her story of researching volunteer opportunities; of discovering 'GlamourGals'; and recruiting three of her best friends — Isabel, Katherin, & Angie — to join her in starting the club. Together, they've recruited 40+ GISH students to join the cause.

    Because with some fresh nail polish, meaningful conversations, and a passion for building connections students can change the world.


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    GUESTS:
    Alexia Nunez - GISH Sophomore & GlamourGals President
    Isabel Corona Rodriguez - GISH Sophomore
    Katherin Xicara Ramos - GISH Junior
    Angie De Orta - GISH Sophomore

    HOST:
    Mitchell Roush - GIPS Communications Director

    --

    FB: facebook.com/GrandIslandPublicSchools

    https://www.gips.org/
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    29 min