1 00:00:06,505 --> 00:00:07,925 - Hey everybody, I'm Connor. 2 00:00:08,185 --> 00:00:10,605 That's Doug. And this is the Bethel 3 00:00:10,605 --> 00:00:11,725 School District Presents podcast. 4 00:00:12,225 --> 00:00:15,085 And boy, howdy. Do we have a great show for you? 5 00:00:15,085 --> 00:00:17,885 This week Doug headed over to Evergreen Elementary 6 00:00:17,885 --> 00:00:20,565 for a conversation with principal extraordinaire 7 00:00:20,595 --> 00:00:21,605 Lisa Whitmeyer. 8 00:00:21,875 --> 00:00:24,325 They sat down and talked about renovating schools, 9 00:00:24,785 --> 00:00:27,685 how Evergreen was denied the chance to repeat 10 00:00:27,685 --> 00:00:28,685 as a blue ribbon school, 11 00:00:28,685 --> 00:00:31,325 even though their academics continue to be off the charts. 12 00:00:31,425 --> 00:00:32,845 But before we get to that, Doug, 13 00:00:32,995 --> 00:00:36,045 I've got an incredibly important question for you. 14 00:00:36,195 --> 00:00:38,885 - From your tone, I can sense it's importance, Connor, 15 00:00:39,305 --> 00:00:42,125 and my response, my answer will be snarky 16 00:00:42,185 --> 00:00:43,565 and half thought out. Perfect. 17 00:00:43,805 --> 00:00:45,765 - Wouldn't expect anything else from you, Doug. 18 00:00:46,285 --> 00:00:49,645 Question is, in some wild alternate universe, 19 00:00:50,185 --> 00:00:53,205 you are granted your very own late night talk show. 20 00:00:53,745 --> 00:00:56,645 Who do you invite as your first guest and why? 21 00:00:57,125 --> 00:01:00,565 - , first off, I love hearing the silent H's in just 22 00:01:00,565 --> 00:01:02,205 about every word you said. 23 00:01:02,705 --> 00:01:05,285 Who and why and Whitmeyer. . 24 00:01:05,475 --> 00:01:07,285 It's really a delight working with you today. 25 00:01:07,325 --> 00:01:09,685 I don't know what an espresso pod you picked this morning, 26 00:01:09,745 --> 00:01:11,125 but use that one more frequently. 27 00:01:11,125 --> 00:01:13,365 It's fantastic. Back to the topic at hand. 28 00:01:14,125 --> 00:01:15,845 I have a late night talk show. 29 00:01:15,865 --> 00:01:16,965 Who do I have a lot 30 00:01:16,965 --> 00:01:18,605 of thoughts going through my head right now? 31 00:01:18,865 --> 00:01:21,365 One, the first guest has to be a good one, right? 32 00:01:21,365 --> 00:01:24,405 Because I'm gonna need to get audience up so I can, 33 00:01:24,405 --> 00:01:26,165 they can get excited and I can keep my show going. 34 00:01:26,225 --> 00:01:28,045 Do I need to take that into account? No. 35 00:01:28,445 --> 00:01:30,965 - . - Okay. That takes a lot of pressure off them. 36 00:01:31,205 --> 00:01:33,885 . So who is, the question is basically, 37 00:01:34,015 --> 00:01:35,565 who's a famous person I'd like to talk to? 38 00:01:35,825 --> 00:01:37,685 Yes. That narrows it down, doesn't it? 39 00:01:37,685 --> 00:01:42,005 So I have just done a Google search for famous people 40 00:01:42,305 --> 00:01:43,925 and just to give our audience some ideas 41 00:01:43,985 --> 00:01:47,445 before I get there, Barack Obama, Taylor Swift, Beyonce, 42 00:01:47,805 --> 00:01:51,165 Leonardo DiCaprio, Johnny Depp, Kim Kardashian, will Smith, 43 00:01:51,185 --> 00:01:53,965 Jim Carrey, and Miley Cyrus are the top nine. 44 00:01:54,345 --> 00:01:56,165 Uh, the top 10 makes it Michelle Obama. 45 00:01:56,225 --> 00:01:58,045 So two Obama's, I'm gonna pick none of them. 46 00:01:58,425 --> 00:02:01,925 In fact, my pick is gonna be none other than the great Chris 47 00:02:02,455 --> 00:02:04,485 Pratt and I want him to show up in character 48 00:02:04,485 --> 00:02:06,085 as Andy from Parks and Rec. 49 00:02:06,385 --> 00:02:08,605 He would be a blast to talk to. I would love watching him. 50 00:02:08,605 --> 00:02:09,885 He's always very funny and I think 51 00:02:09,885 --> 00:02:11,045 it'd be a great conversation. 52 00:02:11,545 --> 00:02:12,885 - Not bad. I would watch that. 53 00:02:13,075 --> 00:02:14,445 - Well, I appreciate your viewership 54 00:02:14,445 --> 00:02:16,725 and hopefully sponsorship of my late night talk show. 55 00:02:16,965 --> 00:02:19,805 Connor, how about you? You're given the gift of Gab on TV 56 00:02:19,985 --> 00:02:21,645 around the 1130 hour. 57 00:02:21,985 --> 00:02:23,685 Who are you drinking coffee with on a 58 00:02:23,685 --> 00:02:25,365 late night talk show set? Hmm? 59 00:02:25,775 --> 00:02:29,205 - Which celebrity do I choose? Do I go with Rock? 60 00:02:29,385 --> 00:02:31,605 The Dwayne Johnson? Do I go with Ryan, 61 00:02:31,745 --> 00:02:33,085 the Baby Goose Gosling? 62 00:02:33,865 --> 00:02:37,245 No, I'm gonna go with a lower rung celebrity 63 00:02:37,425 --> 00:02:39,045 who I think would've great stories. 64 00:02:39,575 --> 00:02:42,045 Great Rock on tour one. Mr. 65 00:02:42,215 --> 00:02:46,485 Jason Schwartzman, drummer for the two thousands Rock Group. 66 00:02:46,755 --> 00:02:49,805 Phantom Planet nephew of one, Mr. 67 00:02:50,205 --> 00:02:54,085 Nicholas Cage, grandson of Francis Ford Coppola 68 00:02:54,465 --> 00:02:57,965 and one Max Fisher from the 1998 Sleeper Hit 69 00:02:58,085 --> 00:02:59,085 - Rushmore. 70 00:02:59,085 --> 00:03:01,005 First of all, for our listeners, Connor just pulled all 71 00:03:01,005 --> 00:03:02,245 that information right out of his head. 72 00:03:02,265 --> 00:03:04,925 He apparently has an ancestry.com set 73 00:03:04,925 --> 00:03:06,445 up for the Schwartzman's. I have 74 00:03:06,445 --> 00:03:07,925 - To admit, I am a Schwartz 75 00:03:07,985 --> 00:03:11,245 - Maniac and also his better role rather than Rushmore is 76 00:03:11,245 --> 00:03:13,045 the Darjeeling Limited where he plays Jack. 77 00:03:13,285 --> 00:03:14,725 I also loved him in Moonrise Kingdom 78 00:03:14,785 --> 00:03:17,085 and really, he is a fantastic actor, 79 00:03:17,665 --> 00:03:18,765 but he can be on your show. 80 00:03:18,905 --> 00:03:20,125 I'm gonna stick with whoever 81 00:03:20,125 --> 00:03:21,445 that guy was that I picked. , 82 00:03:21,785 --> 00:03:22,925 - You've already forgot, haven't 83 00:03:22,925 --> 00:03:23,925 - You? 84 00:03:23,925 --> 00:03:24,605 I have, and it doesn't matter anyway, 85 00:03:24,605 --> 00:03:26,765 because speaking of interviews, today, I'm talking 86 00:03:26,765 --> 00:03:28,365 with someone I've interviewed a number 87 00:03:28,365 --> 00:03:29,965 of times over the past 10 years. 88 00:03:30,555 --> 00:03:33,685 Lisa Whitmeyer is principal at Evergreen Elementary School. 89 00:03:33,685 --> 00:03:36,005 Lisa, you've been in Beth Wet least as long as I have. 90 00:03:36,185 --> 00:03:37,645 I'm not sure. Possibly even longer. 91 00:03:37,915 --> 00:03:39,365 When I first met you, you were a 92 00:03:39,365 --> 00:03:40,525 teacher on special assignment. 93 00:03:40,785 --> 00:03:42,165 Now your principal at Evergreen. 94 00:03:42,345 --> 00:03:44,485 To get us started, talk about what inspired you 95 00:03:44,485 --> 00:03:46,325 to become a teacher in the first place. Well, 96 00:03:46,545 --> 00:03:47,605 - You are correct, Doug. 97 00:03:47,725 --> 00:03:49,205 I have been in Bethel a long time. 98 00:03:49,225 --> 00:03:51,125 In fact, I've been in Bethel for 24 years. 99 00:03:51,745 --> 00:03:54,645 And honestly I wasn't sure I wanted to become a teacher 100 00:03:54,775 --> 00:03:56,445 after my university theory classes. 101 00:03:57,065 --> 00:03:59,085 But after just one spring practicum at Graham 102 00:03:59,085 --> 00:04:00,805 Elementary, I was hooked. 103 00:04:01,165 --> 00:04:02,445 I was able to teach students 104 00:04:02,665 --> 00:04:04,405 and see them get excited about learning. 105 00:04:04,805 --> 00:04:07,685 I was lucky enough to work on a team that worked as APLC 106 00:04:07,685 --> 00:04:08,685 before that was even a thing. 107 00:04:08,685 --> 00:04:11,325 We used student data and planned all our lessons together 108 00:04:11,425 --> 00:04:13,085 to help reach every student. 109 00:04:13,625 --> 00:04:14,845 To top it off, I got invited 110 00:04:14,845 --> 00:04:16,605 to their fifth grade outdoor education 111 00:04:16,755 --> 00:04:19,885 that year at Camp SBUs and I got to connect with families 112 00:04:19,945 --> 00:04:21,685 and really have that community feeling of 113 00:04:21,685 --> 00:04:24,685 how it takes everyone to make a great school program. 114 00:04:24,785 --> 00:04:26,005 And that kind of cinch the deal 115 00:04:26,005 --> 00:04:27,085 and I've been in Bethel ever since. 116 00:04:27,225 --> 00:04:29,325 - That's fantastic. So how long were you teaching 117 00:04:29,325 --> 00:04:30,685 before you became a tosa? 118 00:04:30,715 --> 00:04:33,925 - Gosh, I did my practicum back in 1997. 119 00:04:34,565 --> 00:04:36,445 I started teaching in 1998. 120 00:04:36,765 --> 00:04:38,885 I was in the classroom for 17 years. 121 00:04:39,155 --> 00:04:43,045 Then I was a tosa, an AA and AP and now principal. 122 00:04:43,345 --> 00:04:44,565 - Oh my gosh, that's amazing. 123 00:04:44,715 --> 00:04:45,805 When I first met you 124 00:04:45,805 --> 00:04:47,685 and we did a video about toss, 125 00:04:47,685 --> 00:04:49,685 which are teachers on special assignment, 126 00:04:49,865 --> 00:04:53,045 it was eight years ago, I I looked at it just today we focus 127 00:04:53,045 --> 00:04:56,525 on how ts help young teachers become seasoned educators. 128 00:04:56,825 --> 00:04:58,045 I'm sure that's definitely part 129 00:04:58,045 --> 00:04:59,445 of your job now as principal. 130 00:04:59,445 --> 00:05:01,085 And I really wanna dig in to that 131 00:05:01,145 --> 00:05:04,085 and everything that goes into the role of being a principal. 132 00:05:04,175 --> 00:05:05,645 Principals aren't the villains in 133 00:05:05,645 --> 00:05:06,805 John Hughes movies anymore. 134 00:05:07,345 --> 00:05:09,405 And not only focused on your teachers 135 00:05:09,405 --> 00:05:10,285 and staff, you're working with 136 00:05:10,405 --> 00:05:11,405 students, you're working with parents. 137 00:05:11,805 --> 00:05:13,445 I imagine you're the go-to person when something 138 00:05:13,445 --> 00:05:14,485 goes wrong in the building. 139 00:05:14,705 --> 00:05:16,925 So tell me about your job as principal. 140 00:05:16,945 --> 00:05:18,725 Is it as challenging and rewarding 141 00:05:18,745 --> 00:05:20,685 as I'm painting a picture of right now? 142 00:05:21,105 --> 00:05:23,925 - Yes. Being a principal is actually immensely rewarding 143 00:05:23,925 --> 00:05:26,885 and challenging more so than I had ever imagined. 144 00:05:27,785 --> 00:05:29,765 Of course, there's those tricky situations 145 00:05:29,955 --> 00:05:31,285 with students and adults. 146 00:05:31,745 --> 00:05:33,725 Um, but I always try and approach them with an air 147 00:05:33,725 --> 00:05:36,845 of gratitude as it's an honor for me to be in a position 148 00:05:37,145 --> 00:05:40,125 to help find a positive solution to those situations. 149 00:05:40,585 --> 00:05:42,045 My first step is just to make a connection 150 00:05:42,045 --> 00:05:43,125 with the individual and try 151 00:05:43,125 --> 00:05:44,605 and see things from their perspective 152 00:05:45,145 --> 00:05:47,245 so we can find common ground and, 153 00:05:47,545 --> 00:05:49,645 and work through to find a solution together. 154 00:05:50,525 --> 00:05:52,845 I do have to wear many hats on a daily basis. 155 00:05:53,365 --> 00:05:54,525 I create and maintain systems 156 00:05:54,705 --> 00:05:57,565 and schedules of operation for safety and effectiveness. 157 00:05:58,405 --> 00:06:01,285 I spend time with students, I support staff, 158 00:06:01,385 --> 00:06:03,525 engage in family communications and connections 159 00:06:03,545 --> 00:06:04,645 and work through budgeting. 160 00:06:04,925 --> 00:06:07,125 I work with committees, create professional development, 161 00:06:07,555 --> 00:06:09,165 fulfilled district responsibilities, 162 00:06:09,665 --> 00:06:12,125 but now I also get to work on the modernization 163 00:06:12,345 --> 00:06:14,565 of our school and this new construction project, 164 00:06:14,565 --> 00:06:16,365 which is super exciting. 165 00:06:16,805 --> 00:06:19,725 I will say the best part of my job though, is working 166 00:06:19,755 --> 00:06:22,245 with students and teachers on classroom practice. 167 00:06:23,005 --> 00:06:24,285 I love being an instructional leader. 168 00:06:24,285 --> 00:06:25,765 That was part of my job as a tossa. 169 00:06:26,025 --> 00:06:28,245 Um, and empowering students in the classroom is really 170 00:06:28,245 --> 00:06:29,525 where my passion lies. 171 00:06:29,605 --> 00:06:32,085 I don't think you can ever really take the teacher out of me 172 00:06:32,635 --> 00:06:34,805 when teachers are willing to seek new learning 173 00:06:35,185 --> 00:06:38,085 and receive feedback for the sake of student engagement 174 00:06:38,185 --> 00:06:39,325 and growth and achievement. 175 00:06:39,355 --> 00:06:41,525 It's, it's just an incredible thing to witness. 176 00:06:42,145 --> 00:06:43,445 So I feel like as a principal, 177 00:06:43,445 --> 00:06:46,645 like my student body has grown to now adults and students, 178 00:06:46,865 --> 00:06:48,365 and this is what education is all about. 179 00:06:48,395 --> 00:06:49,845 Like we talk about we want our students 180 00:06:49,865 --> 00:06:50,965 to be lifelong learners 181 00:06:51,465 --> 00:06:53,245 and as a teacher, as a principal, 182 00:06:53,345 --> 00:06:55,485 you are definitely a lifelong learner. 183 00:06:55,555 --> 00:06:56,805 It's kind of what it's all about. 184 00:06:56,805 --> 00:06:58,245 And what makes Evergreen such a great place? 185 00:06:58,475 --> 00:07:00,365 - Well, evergreen Elementary is a great place, 186 00:07:00,525 --> 00:07:03,045 a very special school for our district in 2018. 187 00:07:03,265 --> 00:07:06,645 In fact, evergreen was named a National Blue Ribbon School. 188 00:07:06,725 --> 00:07:09,405 I have it on good authority that you all aren't resting on 189 00:07:09,405 --> 00:07:11,645 your laurels here and you haven't let the academic slide, 190 00:07:11,645 --> 00:07:13,845 in fact, word round the water cooler is you would've gotten 191 00:07:13,845 --> 00:07:16,725 the award again this year if there wasn't a rule in place 192 00:07:16,725 --> 00:07:18,165 for stopping schools from winning it 193 00:07:18,165 --> 00:07:19,285 year after year after year. 194 00:07:19,425 --> 00:07:20,525 So tell us about 195 00:07:20,665 --> 00:07:23,405 how Evergreen is still excelling academically. 196 00:07:23,475 --> 00:07:24,765 - Yeah, this is a huge honor 197 00:07:24,785 --> 00:07:27,045 and Evergreen did earn, uh, 198 00:07:27,045 --> 00:07:29,245 the National Blue Ribbon School in 2018. 199 00:07:29,745 --> 00:07:31,245 We were contacted again 200 00:07:31,265 --> 00:07:32,885 by the nominating committee last year 201 00:07:33,025 --> 00:07:36,085 and asked to be a part of that campaign. 202 00:07:36,085 --> 00:07:39,725 However, the requirement for time lapse between 203 00:07:40,515 --> 00:07:43,005 when you're awarded and can be awarded a second or third 204 00:07:43,005 --> 00:07:44,245 or fourth time had not yet passed. 205 00:07:44,385 --> 00:07:47,525 So then we were deemed ineligible. We are excelling. 206 00:07:47,545 --> 00:07:51,285 And I think that that is due in part to the teachers 207 00:07:51,345 --> 00:07:53,685 and families that are dedicated to our students. 208 00:07:53,755 --> 00:07:55,165 Like we're a real community here. 209 00:07:55,165 --> 00:07:58,245 We're the center of the neighborhood, the hub, so to speak. 210 00:07:58,665 --> 00:08:01,285 Our student achievement so far is looking really great this 211 00:08:01,285 --> 00:08:03,485 year and looking at our fall benchmark data, 212 00:08:03,625 --> 00:08:07,645 our grade levels, all grade levels are making between 61 213 00:08:07,745 --> 00:08:11,125 and 88% accelerated growth in reading. 214 00:08:11,785 --> 00:08:13,365 And between 69 215 00:08:13,365 --> 00:08:16,085 and 84% accelerated growth in math, 216 00:08:16,095 --> 00:08:18,005 which is, it's phenomenal. 217 00:08:18,345 --> 00:08:20,885 Our teams are working really, really hard to make sure 218 00:08:20,885 --> 00:08:23,685 that students are, each student is successful 219 00:08:23,685 --> 00:08:24,725 and they're really making sure that 220 00:08:24,725 --> 00:08:26,085 we drill down to the individual. 221 00:08:26,805 --> 00:08:27,965 - Absolutely. And we both know 222 00:08:27,965 --> 00:08:30,685 that if kids aren't in school, they can't learn. 223 00:08:30,745 --> 00:08:33,005 And that's one thing that you all touted on a recent 224 00:08:33,015 --> 00:08:34,485 visit from OSPI. 225 00:08:34,485 --> 00:08:36,205 We'll actually talk about that in just a few minutes. 226 00:08:36,585 --> 00:08:38,165 But one of the things that you brought up during 227 00:08:38,165 --> 00:08:40,565 that was your attendance record here at Evergreen. 228 00:08:40,755 --> 00:08:42,605 Something special's going on here. Yeah. 229 00:08:42,605 --> 00:08:44,205 - When we first came back from c, 230 00:08:44,545 --> 00:08:46,605 our attendance was very poor. 231 00:08:46,755 --> 00:08:50,005 Part of it was due to the mandated qua, you know, 232 00:08:50,175 --> 00:08:52,085 isolations due to exposure. 233 00:08:52,315 --> 00:08:55,460 However, attendance was regularly around 70% 234 00:08:55,460 --> 00:08:57,485 and our goal is 90% or better. 235 00:08:57,985 --> 00:09:00,805 So we, um, started some attendance campaigns. 236 00:09:00,805 --> 00:09:02,805 We have class and grade level competitions. 237 00:09:03,225 --> 00:09:05,725 We have attendance achievement bracelets, announcements 238 00:09:05,725 --> 00:09:08,365 with facts about attendance so we can educate our families 239 00:09:08,365 --> 00:09:10,445 and students and postcards that go home 240 00:09:10,445 --> 00:09:13,925 to individual students to let them know where they are in, 241 00:09:14,025 --> 00:09:16,165 uh, relationship to the attendance goal. 242 00:09:16,505 --> 00:09:19,525 As a result for the 20 22 20 23 school year, 243 00:09:20,105 --> 00:09:23,365 we had 354 out of 550 students, 244 00:09:23,545 --> 00:09:27,045 or 65% at over 90% attendance. 245 00:09:27,705 --> 00:09:32,565 We had 27% between 80 and 90% attendance, 246 00:09:33,105 --> 00:09:35,605 and only 8% was below 80%. 247 00:09:36,025 --> 00:09:38,165 And we also have some check-in checkout programs 248 00:09:38,165 --> 00:09:40,765 with our social worker, Chelsea Rambo, for those students 249 00:09:40,765 --> 00:09:42,285 that are still struggling with attendance. 250 00:09:42,745 --> 00:09:45,445 And we had really good success last year where eight 251 00:09:45,445 --> 00:09:48,085 of our students went from below 80% 252 00:09:48,105 --> 00:09:50,045 to achieving the school goal just 253 00:09:50,045 --> 00:09:51,325 from that individual attention. 254 00:09:51,465 --> 00:09:54,165 - That's fantastic. We both know there are many reasons kids 255 00:09:54,165 --> 00:09:56,005 could be missing school, some of them family related, 256 00:09:56,145 --> 00:09:57,685 but even just missing two days 257 00:09:57,705 --> 00:09:59,245 of school a month is a big deal. 258 00:09:59,395 --> 00:10:01,485 - Missing two days a month is a big deal. 259 00:10:01,615 --> 00:10:03,725 Again, our goal is 90% attendance, 260 00:10:03,725 --> 00:10:06,725 which would be missing less than two school days a month. 261 00:10:07,485 --> 00:10:11,005 Research shows that students that have 90% attendance have a 262 00:10:11,005 --> 00:10:13,565 higher graduation rate than even those 263 00:10:13,635 --> 00:10:16,205 that meet standard on the SBA in eighth grade. 264 00:10:16,785 --> 00:10:19,925 So just being here, making those social connections 265 00:10:19,985 --> 00:10:23,125 and being present for the learning has an enormous impact. 266 00:10:23,505 --> 00:10:25,685 - Wow. Yeah, that's, that's a great statistic. 267 00:10:25,685 --> 00:10:28,565 And if you miss two days a month for the whole school year, 268 00:10:28,585 --> 00:10:29,885 you missed 10% of the school year. 269 00:10:30,075 --> 00:10:31,485 It's, it's a shocking number. 270 00:10:31,665 --> 00:10:34,005 And because two days a month doesn't seem like that much, 271 00:10:34,025 --> 00:10:35,485 but it really does add up. 272 00:10:35,955 --> 00:10:39,005 Your school recently hosted a very large group of visitors. 273 00:10:39,085 --> 00:10:41,925 I was part of it, including the Washington Association 274 00:10:41,925 --> 00:10:44,125 of Maintenance and Operation Administrators, the Office 275 00:10:44,125 --> 00:10:46,605 of Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Association 276 00:10:46,625 --> 00:10:48,605 for Learning Environments, the American Institute 277 00:10:48,605 --> 00:10:51,885 of Architects, as well as district and other school staff. 278 00:10:52,195 --> 00:10:54,085 They toured the new Natches Trail Elementary 279 00:10:54,085 --> 00:10:56,925 before coming over here to Evergreen here at Evergreen, 280 00:10:56,985 --> 00:11:00,005 you received $12 million in state funding assistance 281 00:11:00,005 --> 00:11:01,405 for the upcoming expansion project 282 00:11:01,405 --> 00:11:02,565 that you referenced earlier. 283 00:11:02,985 --> 00:11:04,765 And before we go find farther, we need 284 00:11:04,845 --> 00:11:06,965 to send a big thank you to our voters for approving 285 00:11:06,965 --> 00:11:08,365 and funding this project as part 286 00:11:08,365 --> 00:11:10,525 of the 2019 School Construction Bond. 287 00:11:10,875 --> 00:11:13,485 This is a really exciting time for your staff and students. 288 00:11:13,625 --> 00:11:14,645 And students actually got 289 00:11:14,645 --> 00:11:17,845 to speak up about the upcoming expansion to that group. 290 00:11:17,845 --> 00:11:19,845 They did it via video in your words, 291 00:11:19,945 --> 00:11:21,605 so they don't miss any time in class. 292 00:11:22,095 --> 00:11:24,685 Going back to that being in class is so important piece. 293 00:11:24,805 --> 00:11:26,605 I love that. What are some of the things 294 00:11:26,605 --> 00:11:28,445 that kids brought up and what are you 295 00:11:28,445 --> 00:11:29,365 and your staff most looking 296 00:11:29,365 --> 00:11:30,445 forward to with the new building? 297 00:11:30,705 --> 00:11:33,565 - Oh my gosh. This is indeed an exciting opportunity 298 00:11:33,665 --> 00:11:35,765 and we are incredibly grateful for the funding 299 00:11:35,765 --> 00:11:37,405 behind this project, both from our local 300 00:11:37,405 --> 00:11:38,885 voters and from the state. 301 00:11:39,625 --> 00:11:42,925 Our students did an excellent job of articulating concerns 302 00:11:42,925 --> 00:11:44,685 that they generated all on their own 303 00:11:44,825 --> 00:11:47,245 and that also echoed the same concerns of the staff. 304 00:11:47,755 --> 00:11:50,045 Some of the things they brought up were the fact 305 00:11:50,045 --> 00:11:52,805 that our current health room is very small 306 00:11:53,025 --> 00:11:55,525 and only capable of hosting one student at a time. 307 00:11:56,265 --> 00:11:58,445 Our kitchen serves more than 400 breakfasts 308 00:11:58,445 --> 00:12:00,605 and 550 lunches every day. 309 00:12:00,745 --> 00:12:03,925 And it's about the size of my modest kitchen in my own home. 310 00:12:04,105 --> 00:12:06,565 Oh, no. Uh, we do not have a cafeteria. 311 00:12:06,705 --> 00:12:08,365 So to allow our students to eat breakfast 312 00:12:08,385 --> 00:12:09,805 and those in the portable classrooms 313 00:12:09,805 --> 00:12:11,605 to eat lunches without carrying them back 314 00:12:11,685 --> 00:12:14,205 and forth in the weather, uh, we split the gym in half, 315 00:12:14,205 --> 00:12:16,925 which means we only have half a gym for the entire day. 316 00:12:17,885 --> 00:12:21,005 Additionally, our 1970s bathrooms can really use an update, 317 00:12:21,005 --> 00:12:22,045 as I'm sure you can imagine. 318 00:12:22,625 --> 00:12:25,325 And our library is open concept, which looks cool, 319 00:12:25,625 --> 00:12:27,205 but with it being in the center of the school, 320 00:12:27,205 --> 00:12:29,285 it's not really a relaxing, quiet place 321 00:12:29,625 --> 00:12:30,965 for reading and study. 322 00:12:31,145 --> 00:12:33,565 And so all of those things are real issues. 323 00:12:34,225 --> 00:12:36,285 Uh, we also have right at school, before and 324 00:12:36,285 --> 00:12:38,805 after school childcare, several 325 00:12:38,855 --> 00:12:41,925 after school clubs, family engagement nights, girl Scouts, 326 00:12:42,225 --> 00:12:46,405 Bethel Rec sports, and our super PTA has lots of events, 327 00:12:46,465 --> 00:12:49,325 but all of these, um, organizations compete 328 00:12:49,325 --> 00:12:50,365 for time and space. 329 00:12:51,065 --> 00:12:53,605 So thankfully all these issues will be addressed 330 00:12:53,605 --> 00:12:55,485 and remedied in the new construction project. 331 00:12:55,615 --> 00:12:57,765 Classrooms and facilities will be modernized. 332 00:12:58,055 --> 00:13:00,885 We'll have a new wing of classrooms to replace portables. 333 00:13:01,145 --> 00:13:02,285 Our kitchen will be expanded 334 00:13:02,345 --> 00:13:04,885 and we'll have a brand new commons to serve as a cafeteria, 335 00:13:05,585 --> 00:13:09,165 uh, meeting space and another community meeting area. 336 00:13:09,585 --> 00:13:11,285 - It is gonna be a fantastic upgrade. 337 00:13:11,345 --> 00:13:12,925 I'm glad you brought up the community spaces. 338 00:13:13,095 --> 00:13:15,525 We're a school first, but you said earlier this is the 339 00:13:15,525 --> 00:13:16,565 hub of the community. 340 00:13:16,645 --> 00:13:18,685 I know during the presentation you mentioned there's yoga 341 00:13:18,685 --> 00:13:19,725 classes that meet here. 342 00:13:19,865 --> 00:13:23,445 How important is evergreen after hours to the community? You 343 00:13:23,445 --> 00:13:25,205 - Know, we are at the center of our neighborhood 344 00:13:25,305 --> 00:13:28,205 and we do really important work here before 345 00:13:28,385 --> 00:13:29,405 and after school. 346 00:13:30,185 --> 00:13:33,685 So we are really looking forward to a building 347 00:13:33,915 --> 00:13:35,285 that looks important 348 00:13:35,425 --> 00:13:38,205 and is worthy of hosting all of these amazing students, 349 00:13:39,125 --> 00:13:40,685 families, and programs 350 00:13:40,685 --> 00:13:44,205 because we really do want to, uh, foster positive growth 351 00:13:44,265 --> 00:13:48,325 and development all day long for as long as we possibly can. 352 00:13:48,765 --> 00:13:51,045 - I really love that. I love your passion for your students 353 00:13:51,105 --> 00:13:52,125 and for the community here. 354 00:13:52,165 --> 00:13:53,365 I love that it's a community hub. 355 00:13:53,545 --> 00:13:54,685 At the beginning of the show, Connor 356 00:13:54,685 --> 00:13:56,765 and I talked about having our own late night talk shows 357 00:13:56,765 --> 00:13:58,605 and who we would invite as our first guest. 358 00:13:58,825 --> 00:14:00,725 So who would you invite if you had a talk show 359 00:14:00,725 --> 00:14:02,045 that you would wanna sit down and chat with? 360 00:14:02,485 --> 00:14:05,525 - Interestingly enough, I would not invite a pop 361 00:14:05,525 --> 00:14:06,565 culture celebrity. 362 00:14:06,825 --> 00:14:08,365 The first person that comes to mind is 363 00:14:08,645 --> 00:14:09,725 actually Ernest Shackleton. 364 00:14:10,205 --> 00:14:12,165 I read a nonfiction, uh, novel 365 00:14:12,315 --> 00:14:15,205 with my first sixth grade class about his epic journey 366 00:14:15,385 --> 00:14:17,165 called the Shipwreck at the bottom of the world. 367 00:14:17,545 --> 00:14:19,685 For those of you that don't know, Shackleton was an Irish 368 00:14:20,165 --> 00:14:23,005 explorer who led a crew in a race to be the first team 369 00:14:23,025 --> 00:14:27,205 to sail to and traverse the Antarctic continent. 370 00:14:27,785 --> 00:14:31,245 Has ship the endurance, departed from London in 1914 371 00:14:31,705 --> 00:14:35,445 and didn't return until August of 1916. 372 00:14:36,275 --> 00:14:38,125 They actually lost contact 373 00:14:38,195 --> 00:14:40,845 with the world a few months after departing. 374 00:14:40,845 --> 00:14:43,005 Their ship was crushed by ice. 375 00:14:43,415 --> 00:14:45,085 Their crew managed to escape 376 00:14:45,185 --> 00:14:47,365 and live on the ice for 18 months, 377 00:14:48,075 --> 00:14:50,685 take a lifeboat across the cold. 378 00:14:50,795 --> 00:14:53,565 Antarctic waters land on a whaling island, 379 00:14:53,825 --> 00:14:55,405 but they landed on the wrong side. 380 00:14:55,705 --> 00:14:57,925 So then they had to climb a mountain range to get 381 00:14:57,945 --> 00:14:59,125 to the whaling station. 382 00:14:59,945 --> 00:15:03,685 And through Shackleton's leadership and optimism 383 00:15:03,825 --> 00:15:06,805 and courage, his entire crew of 28 stayed together. 384 00:15:07,235 --> 00:15:08,765 They stayed optimistic 385 00:15:08,785 --> 00:15:12,405 and every person survived this horrific journey 386 00:15:12,905 --> 00:15:14,045 of two years. 387 00:15:14,705 --> 00:15:16,085 And so I would interview him 388 00:15:16,145 --> 00:15:18,245 to find out about his leadership. 389 00:15:18,845 --> 00:15:20,885 I know his family motto from reading the book was 390 00:15:20,905 --> 00:15:22,005 by endurance we conquer. 391 00:15:22,625 --> 00:15:25,445 And you know, he says things like difficulties are just 392 00:15:25,445 --> 00:15:27,245 things to overcome after all. 393 00:15:28,065 --> 00:15:29,805 And the world is a huge place. 394 00:15:30,225 --> 00:15:31,325 How will you know where you fit 395 00:15:31,345 --> 00:15:33,805 unless you explore beyond your comfort zone? 396 00:15:33,825 --> 00:15:35,205 And I think those are all things that 397 00:15:35,225 --> 00:15:37,765 as a leader in education, I need to keep in mind 398 00:15:38,225 --> 00:15:40,005 and keep at the center of everything I do. 399 00:15:40,145 --> 00:15:41,525 So I would be a little bit of a nerd 400 00:15:41,525 --> 00:15:43,045 and I would interview a historical figure. 401 00:15:43,725 --> 00:15:45,245 - I absolutely love that answer. 402 00:15:45,585 --> 00:15:47,965 And no one, it sounds like deserves a hot cup 403 00:15:47,965 --> 00:15:49,565 of coffee on a late night set. 404 00:15:49,845 --> 00:15:52,965 more than Ernest Shackleton. Very good answer. 405 00:15:53,195 --> 00:15:55,725 Lisa Whitmeyer, thank you so much for joining us today. 406 00:15:55,725 --> 00:15:57,645 - Thanks for having me, Doug. I really appreciate it. 407 00:15:57,645 --> 00:15:58,645 This has been fun. 408 00:16:01,225 --> 00:16:03,165 - Wow. Ernest Shackleton, that's a great pick 409 00:16:03,385 --> 00:16:04,685 and a historical figure. 410 00:16:04,945 --> 00:16:06,925 You know, Doug, no issue do next week. 411 00:16:07,135 --> 00:16:10,765 Let's talk about which historical figure we would have 412 00:16:10,765 --> 00:16:12,085 dinner with if we could. 413 00:16:12,725 --> 00:16:15,565 - Connor Weed did that, like in episode 52 414 00:16:15,825 --> 00:16:16,825 - We did. 415 00:16:16,825 --> 00:16:17,765 Are we running out of ideas? 416 00:16:18,095 --> 00:16:20,045 - We've been running out of ideas since episode one. 417 00:16:20,435 --> 00:16:23,285 - Okay. Well tune in next week. We'll wing it, I guess.