Leander ISD Podcast Network

Summertime is bringing more than just the sunshine. We have a couple more episodes of Let's Learn with Bruce & Friends before we say curtains to our inaugural season!  Our Hot Topics include lots of "learning": Virtual Empowered Learning, Summer Learning, Professional Learning.  These issues and more rounded out our Hot Topics!  We went behind the scenes with our CNS workers at Reed Elementary. Then, right after our audience questions, we went straight into an incredible storytime performance with District Nurse Cristin Wicketts and our campus nurses! Enjoy!

It might be the last week of school, but there’s still plenty to learn in our next episode!  Athletics Director Jody Hormann tells us the district’s plan for strength and conditioning summer camps, Director of Research Sarah Martinez shares feedback from our remote learning survey, LEEF Executive Director Kristen Huguley shares details about our virtual State of the District, plus a few more Hot Topics.

Every episode has its own character. Episode 9 was all about levity. As we count down the days to the end of the school year, as tension shrinks from our shoulders down, we felt free to crack a smile and have fun. 

Hot Topics were sizzling as we shared all things summer! What summer school will look like and what high school students should consider during these next few months made the playlist. Plus, we have a creative project for students to work on over the break, Time Capsule 2020! From summer to fall, we shared what the new school year could look like when school resumes in August. That's just the tip of the flame! We heard student voices from Plain Elementary and a performance from Cedar Park Middle School's Advance Theatre to boot!

What a great episode of Let's Learn, as we listen to district leadership talk about our hot topics which included summer school, revising the bell schedule, Summer Reading 4 All, and technology access.   We also had, what's now considered, a rare glimpse into a middle school when Dr. Gearing toured Leander Middle School earlier this spring (before school buildings closed). LISD Superintendent Bruce Gearing, Ed.D covered all your questions from cleaning the schools, TEA school calendar recommendations and even academic and athletic summer camps.

Let's Learn with Bruce & Friends featured a slew of new details about  graduation scenarios, graduation requirements by grade level and how to get your student's belongings. It's Teacher Appreciation Week! We chatted with a kindergarten dual-language teacher from Knowles Elementary for some pro-tips on how to thrive in the next few weeks of remote learning.  Words of encouragement from our Leander ISD Board members, plus, an incredible performance from a teacher from Block House Creek Elementary!

In Episode 6, we fielded lots of questions about remote learning and our future, which included our finances and hiring outlook moving forward. We also had the chance to hear from a student panel from Cedar Park High School's broadcast journalism program. We put a bow on the show with a positively delightful performance from Reed Elementary teachers and staff!

In Episode 5 of our Facebook LIVE show, "Let's Talk, Learn, and Have Fun with Bruce & Friends," we learned more about report cards and how learning will be measured and communicated. An outstanding Vandegrift HS student panel gave their thoughts on what's happening from an international student perspective, and a super cute performance from Parkside Elementary kindergartners!

We have to be physically apart from each other, but we can still be social. Superintendent Bruce Gearing, Ed.D. hosted a live chat with middle school students in a Zoom webinar on April 21, 2020. During the webinar, Bruce, middle school principals, and assistant superintendents answered questions about virtual learning, spring events, and the overall district response to the COVID-19 response by Leander ISD.

We have to be physically apart from each other, but we can still be social. Superintendent Bruce Gearing, Ed.D. hosted a live chat with high school students in a Zoom webinar on April 20, 2020. During the webinar, Bruce, high school principals, and assistant superintendents answered questions about virtual learning, graduation plans, and the overall district response to the COVID-19 response by Leander ISD.

LISD Superintendent Bruce Gearing, Ed.D. answers questions to some “Hot Topics” and discuss the launch of our Remote Learning Parenting Hub. You’ll hear from six graduating seniors, one from every LISD high school campus.

Season 1 Episode 3 focuses on the resources available to parents and allows us as a district to connect with our students. Watch a segment on mindfulness, a resounding performance from a graduating senior as well as hear LISD Superintendent Bruce Gearing answer questions about our next steps. Enjoy!

We announced our Remote Learning Phase 2 on April 1, 2020. In order to add clarity and connect with our students, families, teachers, and staff, Superintendent Bruce Gearing hosted our second episode of “Let’s Talk, Learn and Have Fun with Bruce and Friends” on April 1, live on Facebook.  Hear our leadership team talk about our recent grading policy change, the impact on class rank/GPA, and phase 2 of our Remote Learning Plan. We also have a special guest performance by Danielson Middle School principal Mark Koller.

As we respond to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic and enter distance learning, teachers across Leander ISD are reconnecting with students and families. This was step on our remote instruction plan as we continue our operations outside of our schools. With our focus being on relationships, we want to reconnect with our families too. Superintendent of School Bruce Gearing will be LIVE on Facebook to chat, talk to members of our leadership team, and take questions from our community.

This episode was originally broadcasted on Facebook Live and created using Zoom. 

Join Superintendent Bruce Gearing, Ed.D. on a tour of Whitestone Elementary School with fifth-grade students Ava Outlaw and Joaquin Diaz De Leon as they share stories about arts programs, leadership opportunities, and the dual-language program at Whitestone.

How much worldly and global experiences can you squeeze into one conversation with three high school seniors in Cedar Park? The three fascinating guests on the Student Voice podcast - Evan, Vines, Tiras Park-Pie, and Carolynn Solario - spoke about their experiences living abroad, working with students from different cultures.  In discussion with Superintendent Bruce Gearing, Ed.D., the soon-to-be-graduates talked about the pressures of high school, especially a school like Cedar Park High School with a distinguished history for excellence. 

Have you ever pondered the actual definition of technology? What about the connection between hard cheese and life? Superintendent Bruce Gearing, Ed.D. spoke about those topics and more with a tremendous trio of Deer Creek Elementary School students: Oliver Hallowell, Jazmin Cho, and Rylen Hudson. Note: This is a re-post because a previous version of this episode had a technical error. 

Superintendent Bruce Gearing, Ed.D. discussed books, theater, and student involvement with Rouse High School students Trevor Holt, Lidia Mazza and Jack Wingard. The three students talked about their principal, Christine Simpson, and the campus culture at RHS, located in Leander, TX.

All 41,300 students in Leander ISD bring a unique story and experience into our schools. The Student Voice podcast, produced by the School Community Relations team, features students sharing their stories and opinions about their learning. Join the conversation with our students! Subscribe today.