The Bethel School District Presents Podcast

Episode 127: Students lead the charge with YMCA's Youth and Government program

Middle school students will soon be debating on the floor of the Washington State Legislature thanks to the YMCA's Youth and Government program. This week we sit down with two of those students, check in with program leaders, and chat with one of our teachers to get the full picture of this unique opportunity. 

Episode 126: Small engine repair and welding in class

This week we sit down with one of our CTE teachers to discuss small engine repair, power sports, and the future of welding in class. We also dive into how these hands-on skills are preparing students for exciting career opportunities in the trades!

Episode 125: Bloom where you are planted

This week we sit down with a 28-year veteran teacher as she reflects on her amazing career inspiring students. We learn who inspired her to become a teacher, discuss the changes she's seen in education, and find out her advice for new teachers just starting in the profession. 

Episode 124: Women in STEM and middle school robotics

This week we sit down with one of our middle school STEM teachers and learn about her career in the Navy and her thoughts on how we can get more girls interested in STEM fields. We also invite some of her students to talk about the future of robotics!

Episode 123: Behind the auction block: Raising money for student scholars

This week we sit down with two former B.E.S.T. scholarship winners and hear how those awards impacted their educational journeys. We also get hyped for the upcoming Graham Business Association's auction that raises money for those scholarships! The annual event is scheduled for March 14 at 6 p.m. at Nelson Elementary. Ticket information is at https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2025-gba-scholarship-auction.

Episode 122: Serving your community through public schools

This week we sit down with one of our outstanding paraeducators to discuss her journey to the classroom. She also shares a message of optimism to people wanting to make a difference in their community through public schools.

Episode 121: Cornhole debuts in Unified Sports

This week, we talk basketball, e-sports, track, and cornhole with one of our Unified Sports coaches and two of her students. Unified Sports empowers individuals with and without intellectual disabilities to team up and build community through the power of sports.

Episode 120: The alternative high school experience

This week we sit down with Challenger High School's academic counselor and two seniors to learn how its alternative high school experience is positively impacting the education of students.

Episode 119: This is how we roll

This week we sit down with one of our amazing driver trainers to learn what it takes to drive a school bus! Bus drivers play an important role in our district as they are the first and last district staff that most students see every single school day. If you or someone you know wants to join our amazing Transportation Team, visit jobs.bethelsd.org!

Episode 118: Cybersecurity and the perils of typosquatting

This week, we venture to Bethel High School to talk tech with some of our amazing cybersecurity students and their teacher. Hear about the hands-on learning they're doing, what "typo squatting" is, and some tips for keeping yourself safe online. All that and more on this week's show!

Episode 117: Bethel's Print Shop

Printing has been around for hundreds of years, dating back to the second century in China. Even in our digital age, there is still a need for printed materials. This week, we visit Bethel's very own Print Shop to get a tour and learn about this cost-saving operation that is printing millions of pages each year for our students.

Episode 116: From the Mars Rover to Mechatronics

This week, we sit down with the Pierce County Skills Center's Mechatronics teacher to talk about her groundbreaking class and her previous job working on the Mars Rover. Two of her students also join the conversation to discuss their thoughts on Mechatronics and their future in the industry.

Episode 115: Travel Tales Vol. 3

Happy New Year! On this week's episode, we revisit some of our favorite travel stories from the past year, plus, we share a never-before-broadcast travel story ... of terror! 

Episode 114: Travel Tales Vol. 2

This week, we're revisiting some of our favorite travel stories shared on the show! From 'happy places' to thoughtful reflection, join us for a fun-filled look back! Have a wonderful holiday break!

Episode 113: Movie Music and Middle School Orchestras

This week we sit down with two middle school students and their amazing orchestra teacher to discuss the impact music education has. We also discuss movie soundtracks, overseas education, and we'll hear the orchestra perform! Funding for our music education programs is supported by our local levies. Thank you, voters!

Episode 112: Walking in Two Worlds – Native American Education in Bethel

We live in an area rich with cultural diversity, and that’s especially true for our district’s Native American population. Joining us this week are two teachers and four students who are all a part of the Title VI Native American Education Program. We discuss the program and how it's helping students overcome barriers and thrive on their educational journey, from preschool to high school.

Episode 111: Helping students who are experiencing homelessness

The McKinney-Vento Education of Homeless Children and Youth Assistance Act provides federal funding to states for the purpose of supporting district programs that serve homeless students. This week, we're talking with two amazing women whose work is making a positive impact on students who are experiencing homelessness.

Episode 110: Travel Tales Vol. 1

This week, we're revisiting some of our favorite travel stories shared on the show! From Disney to D.C., join us for a fun-filled look back! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving break!

Episode 109: Middle School Medical Detectives

This week, some amazing eighth graders join us to talk about a cool new class called Medical Detectives. We discuss the hands-on experiences they're getting in the biomedical science field as well as finding out which famous fictional detective they'd like to be partnered with on a medical detective TV show. 

Episode 108: Minute Meetings

Here in Bethel, we have a counselor or social worker at every elementary school and teams of them at our middle and high schools. Across the district, they focus on three key areas, Academics, College and Career Readiness, and Social Emotional Learning. This week, we sit down with one of our amazing elementary school social workers to discuss what that looks like at the elementary level. We also learn about "minute meetings" that are helping to build a sense of belonging and trust in her school community.

Episode 107: Graduation rates and career and college readiness

This week we hear from fourth grade students about their hopes and dreams for the future. We also break out our emergency slide rule and dive deep into the data, looking at our district's graduation rates, our students' sense of belonging, and find out how many grads pursue some type of education after they finish high school. That and more, on this week's show.

Episode 106: From Paraeducator to Principal

This week we sit down with one of our assistant principals who started her career as a paraeducator in our district! Hear how she overcame adversity as a student, and was inspired by a teacher to work in education, before rising through the ranks to help lead one of our amazing elementary schools. 

Episode 105: Students weigh in on Election Day

This week we sit down with two AP Government students and their teacher for a spirited discussion about U.S. politics, history, and their hopes for the future of our country. We also discuss Rick Steves' book, "Travel as a Political Act," and ask them how travel has impacted their views of the world.

Episode 104: Students launch video games at PAX West and Steam

This week we talk with video game development students at the Pierce County Skills Center who secured two firsts in PCSC history. Not only were they the first students to take a game to PAX West as creators, but two games they developed are now available for sale on the Steam store! We talk about their success, future plans, and much more on this week's episode.

Episode 103: A heart for special education

October is Disability History Month. On this week's show, we sit down with an inspirational special education teacher who is working hard to help her students learn, grow, and thrive! You'll hear how as a young girl in Montana, a special education teacher helped her as she faced her own struggles to learn. She'll also share stories of her own students' success, and you won't believe her surprising answer about her favorite form of self care! That and more, all on this week's show.

Episode 102: All Bethel Community Day 2024

This week we sit down with some of the folks working behind the scenes to make this year's All Bethel Community Day a spectacular event for our students, their families, and our community! ABC Day is Saturday, October 5, from 9am to 3pm at Bethel High School.

Episode 101: Opening a brand new school with 'walking school buses'

This week we learn what it's like to open a brand new school with one of our amazing principals! We discuss her diverse school community with its 18 different languages, what exactly a "walking school bus" is, as well as her favorite places to camp in Washington state! We also sit down with students to get their take on the new school, as well as a few favorite Halloween costumes.

Episode 100: New grading standards and celebrating a milestone

This week we discuss our district's new grading standards for our middle and high schools. We also talk Disney, things that turned 100 this year, and TV shows that didn't make it to 100 episodes (like we just did!)

Episode 99: Technology, travel and tattoos

This week, we chat with a teacher about her trip to Washington D.C. where she was one of 32 lucky educators to take part in the Smithsonian's Teacher Innovator Institute! We discuss A.I. in the classroom, must-see museums, and how STEAM is helping students grow and learn.

Episode 98: Bethel’s budget and a few questions about coffee

This week we dive headfirst into our school district’s budget to better understand school funding in Washington. Once we finally resurface, we’ll have a caffeinated conversation about coffee.

Episode 97: From Lockdowns to Touchdowns

This week we discuss the difference between "lockdowns" and "modified lockdowns" as we spotlight safety and security here in Bethel. We also get a preview of the upcoming high school football season.

Episode 96: School nurses, urban chicken farming, and outdoor adventures

This week, our lead nurse joins us for a conversation about riding quads, true crime podcasts, urban chicken farming, and what parents need to be thinking about as school gets underway.

Episode 95: Who’s the voice of YOUR generation?

This week we talk to students and staff who got to travel to Seattle as part of their summer school experience! We also ask them who they consider to be the voice of their generation.

Episode 94: Car talk, trivia, and supporting students

We're kicking off Season 3 of the Bethel School District Presents Podcast with a very special guest! Our new Executive Director of Special Services joins us for a great conversation to talk about how her team supports students across the district. We also talk drag racing, old Volkswagens, and have a summertime trivia showdown!

Episode 93: Food insecurity in Pierce County

In the second part of our conversation with GoodRoots Northwest, we find out how students and technology are helping innovate the experience for families suffering from food insecurity in Pierce County.

Episode 92: After-school snacks and futuristic food banks

This week we sit down with the fine folks at GoodRoots Northwest and learn about the ways they're involving our students in their innovative spin on food banks.

Episode 91: Trivia showdown and aspiring educators

Conor and Doug go head to head in a trivia challenge for the ages before chatting with a former student and her teacher about our Careers in Education program and how it's preparing students to become future educators.

Episode 90: Most popular sports and a marathoning teacher

This week, we get a little sporty discussing the most popular sports in the world before we revisit an interview with one of our amazing teachers who ran the Boston Marathon!

Episode 89: Celebrating 75 Years of Bethel with 100-Year-Old Ed Niehl

Happy Independence Day! The podcast crew is off this week and we have a special rebroadcast of an earlier episode for your podcasting pleasure. Bethel legend Ed Niehl joins the show to celebrate the district's 75th anniversary. Ed taught in our district when it was formed back in 1949. Hear about the history of the district from a man who was there, along with plenty of stories, advice, and lots of laughs!

Episode 88: Blockbuster movies and fond farewells

This week we talk summer blockbuster movies and bid a very fond farewell to Superintendent Tom Seigel, who is retiring after 23 years at the helm of the Battleship Bethel! We'll talk to him about movies, history, archaeology, and more in this jam-packed episode!

Episode 87: America’s Favorite Foods and Skills Center Success

This week we peruse the list of America's 50 favorite foods and are equal parts surprised and hungry afterwards. Then we venture to the Pierce County Skills Center to learn about the newest happenings there, including a student created video game that's going to PAX West, the new Mechatronics program, and some culinary innovations that are feeding hungry families in our community.

Episode 86: Celebrity Speeches and Senior Spotlights

This week we celebrate the Class of 2024 with several seniors who join the show to talk about their high school experiences, their plans after graduation, and which celebs they wish had given their commencement speeches.

Episode 85: Near-death experiences and fish stories

This week we're featuring podcasts made by students! Press play for some family fishing fun, near death experiences, and some behind-the-scenes podcast data you'll have to hear to believe!

Episode 84: Band of Bison; Happiest states in the USA

This week, we find out which states are the happiest in the USA before sitting down with the Bethel High School band to talk about music, life after graduation, and the school's new marching band, which will take the field this fall.

Episode 83: Earworms and influence with the Superintendent’s Student Leadership Council

This week, members of the Superintendent’s Student Leadership Council join the show to discuss the way they are helping to influence district and school culture, engagement, policies, procedures, and practices. We also chat about their dreams for after graduation, and find out what song was last stuck in their heads.

Episode 82: Crime Scene Investigation in high school

This week, we venture to the Pierce County Skills Center's Criminal Justice class to talk with students who are learning Crime Scene Investigation in high school. We also find out where they're heading after graduation, and ask them about a key moment in history they'd like to visit.

Episode 81: Battle of the Books

Our annual Elementary Battle of the Books is upon us! This week we sit down with students at Katherine G. Johnson Elementary to hear more about the competition, books they recommend, and what their dreams are after high school.

Episode 80: Instant experts and graduate success

This week we chat with students about how their high schools have prepared them for life after they cross the graduation stage. Conor and Doug also ponder the following question: If you could snap your fingers and instantly become an expert in something, what would it be and why?

Episode 79: Middle school scholars and their cello-playing principal

This week, we talk with students who are using their middle school years to challenge themselves academically. We also sit down with a principal who played a concert on the Great Wall of China!

Episode 77: A Freaky Friday with our Dual Language program

This week, 8th grade students who have been in our Dual Language program since kindergarten talk about the impact it has had on their lives, both socially and academically. Conor and Doug also kick around the age-old question, if you could walk in someone else's shoes for 24 hours, who would it be and why?