Hey, everybody. I'm Doug. That's Connor, and this
is season 3 of your favorite school district
podcast. That's right. The Bethel school district presents
podcast is better back for another year of
great shows and we have a special guest
to help us kick things off. We absolutely
do friend of the pod, Melissa Mu and
Merritt. She's talk about her new role as
executive director of special service. So Melissa, last
time you're on the pod, we talk to
you about drag racing.
Specifically, you mentioned that you've built up a
19 69 chevy over that you actually race
and that you've done the quarter mile in
just 11 seconds.
Impressive stuff. That was a couple years ago.
So the question is, you're working on any
new vehicles. Have an old rust bucket 19
73
vid bus. I'm fixing up. So... Wow. I
think that goes like 40 miles an hour
So I'm taking it as I get a
little older, Maybe I'm taking her down a
little. That's my speed. I like that.
So not drag racing as much, but once
sounds like maybe your dad got you into
dry racing in the first place. Yeah. So
my dad has a couple of cars. A
rail car and then what you call a
little roadster.
But the Nova is kind of the car
we fixed up together and just raced it.
Put a big engine and a big block
in it and erased it up and down
the track. Nothing too fancy. Just pretty bare
bones, but a lot of fun. It sounds
like The... I just wanna follow up on
that Vw bus that you're fixing up? Are
you fixing up with, like, original Vw parts
or because I always thought a bus would
be awesome,
except they're known for breaking down a lot,
so I would put, like, a Tesla engine
in it Do you do anything like that?
No. We're on a budget.
So I wish we were. But now I
think it's gonna be cool just to roll
around. It's got original paint on it. It
was found in some old fellas garage, and
he just didn't get around to fixing it
up. We got it for a steel, and
it's in great condition. It's it's a little
beat up on the outside, but the interiors
fantastic and so we're just gonna start rolling
around in it. And I don't know if
you noticed on your way over to the
studio today, but there is a dirty white
Honda Cr and beat up old 19 96
camry in the park. Lot. Those bad boys
belong to me and Doug. So let's say
we're all lined up on the track. My
honda against your 69 Nova and Doug old
cl. Question is who wins, who comes in
second and who finish this last. And don't
don't be afraid to say it's gonna be
dug in the last just because it's you.
So what you kinda know about dry racing
is it's all about your time off the
line. So here's the thing. I I could
easily lose against those cars if I go
red. It's called going red where you jump
the gun a little bit. So you watch
the tree as the lights go down. And
once it, you you get up to the
line, it has a sensor and once it
hits green, you go. So it's... It's quite
possible that that camry could beat us all
because it could be that we're... Tell us
there's a chance. Yeah. There's a chance. There's
always hope.
You're that doug. Hope springs a turn just
swear. I love it. Well, as much as
we'd like to talk about cars for the
entire podcast. I though I think Connor and
I would run out of material pretty quickly.
You're here today to talk a little bit
about your exciting new role in the district.
After 7 years at Cam Prairie 6 as
principal. Recently decided to switch gears and, hey,
that's a car pun. Just toss it in.
That one's free.
And you applied for the position of executive
direct... Factor of special services for people that
don't know out there. That role actually covers
a lot of ground. You're overseeing our preschool
programs,
special education, multilingual ling education, as well as
transition lab, possibly more. Given the scope of
this job, I'm sure there's countless areas where
you see opportunities for the district to excel,
what are some of the areas you're particularly
excited about this year? Well, I mean, I
am always super proud to be a bethel
employee and an educator here in Bethel. I
can't sing the praises enough about the good
work. All of us are doing here to
support students.
And so what's most exciting to me is
to really
imagine how we can support all of our
learners in inclusive welcoming environments
that give them the academic skills as well
as those soft skills.
To be successful in life and really supporting
our our Bethel school district strategic plan to
ensure that all of our students exit our
school district ready to enter the work force
or go to college
and really be as successful as possible.
Being preschool through 22,
gives us a a huge opportunity to align
our systems and support our students all the
way from the very first time they enter
a school system to the time that they
leave the school system. And so I think
there's a lot of really exciting work that
we can do around aligning instruction and aligning
the,
academic supports that we give to students so
that they can be those successful community members
as they leave the Bethel school district. That's
awesome. You mentioned soft. Skills for folks that
aren't in the know what, what does that
actually entail in a school system? So things
like perseverance,
things like grit, confidence,
competence that social Iq, if you will, so
being able to interact with others in social
environments and being able to connect with other
people in,
academic, professional or even just
informal environment. So that's what I mean by
soft skills, all of those things that allow
us to build professional relationships, but also personal
relationships that
support our overall well being as a human,
So, Melissa, while your were principal Cam Perry,
you, and your are incredible staff, 1, just
about every award possible at the elementary school
level. Including being recognized as a national Es
distinguished school, 1 of only 2 in our
state I might add,
what made you want to give all that
up and step into this new role? Honestly,
okay. First and foremost, I can't. Say enough
wonderful things about the educators at Chemistry Perry.
And the school as a whole. And so,
you know, leaving there is very bitter sweet.
I kind of think of that iron sharpen
iron, and I really like a challenge.
And while, I could have stayed at Campus
Perry and ben happy for the rest of
my life.
I knew I needed something a little bit
more. And I I really like to take
on a challenge, and I really believe in
supporting all of our students.
And I saw that there was an opportunity
to make a difference in the way that
we have served our chemistry
students.
In a way that is flexible and,
open minded so that they can be very
successful. But what's most important is that we
have to have adults that feel supported and,
like, they make a difference and what they're
doing matters because if we have happy, healthy
staff members will have happy, healthy students. And
so it's really too pronged. Of course, it's
always at the heart of every decision we
make are the best interest of students,
and the adults are close second. And so
I I think that this job still allows
me to do
make a difference in that way. I love
that. Well well said, and you've been in
education for quite some time. You're a payer...
Cater in both Texas and Washington.
You've taught middle school El in social studies
here in Bethel, you are digital learning To.
And as we mentioned, you're an elementary school
principal,
What are some of the things you've learned
along the way and all of these positions
that you're bringing with you to your new
job as executive director of specials. Services, maybe
some of the soft skills that you picked
up along the way. The that every person
in this organization matters, mh and that every
1 of us has a role in making
a dip friends in our students lives. And
in our community.
We are such a hub for our community
here in the Bethel School District. We're kind
of unique in that sense that friends everything
that we are all doing from a bus
driver to a para educator to a child
nutrition worker to communications, to teachers to administrators
are making a difference in students lives. And
so I think, having done many different jobs
within
this organization and others, it gives me some
perspective to what it feels like to walk
down the hall as App para as a
teacher. As,
I mean, they all have their unique, challenges,
but they all have their unique
things that are wonderful about them. So, it
gives me that
perspective
and helps me see that
every single person makes a difference for students
or has the potential to make a difference
difference for students every single day. And so
through this role, I really wanna make sure
that people feel heard, people feel valued. They...
We take perspectives into account as we make
plans to move forward to support our students
Because remember, the adults are an important part
of that process. So we wanna keep students
at heart, but we also wanna make sure
that it's possible for the adults and they
can see themselves in those roles and successful
in those roles. Absolutely. It's so important to
feel seen whether you're a student or an
adult, I really love that. Yeah. And, you
know, as anyone who knows you spend any
time with you or even just heard you
right now on this podcast,
you're always really quick to credit your team
for helping create the amazing environment at Canvas
or anywhere else that you are You're not
leading a whole new team at special services.
What's gonna be the key to building cam
with this new team and making sure that
everyone is happy and feeling like their voice
is being heard. Mh.
So 1 of my favorite teachers that I've
worked with. He always said, and I adopted
it early on and he said you have
2 ears in 1 mouth for a reason.
Listen more than you speak. 1 of my
biggest priorities
is to ensure that we hear from a
diverse audience,
just like I talked earlier about the different
roles that I've held in the different roles
within this organization. It's going to be reaching
out to different...
People to find out what makes their day
more possible? What makes them tick? What are
the challenges in their day and figure out
how we can problem solve those things. There
isn't always a magic solution, and we can't
fix everything right now. But in time through
that constant
recur a process of listening
and and taking in feedback and and making
decisions with keeping students at heart, but staff
a close second, we will be able to
do great things for our staff and through
this department that will ripple throughout the entire
school district.
This is a very exciting time for the
Bethel School District. There is a lot of
change. Not the only 1 with the new
position this year. In fact, we have a
new interim super superintendent in ind Brian Lia,
interestingly enough, doctor Lia actually had your job
executive director of special services, not that long
ago, is he someone you'll lean on in
his new role as you're in your new
role as you begin this journey?
Absolutely. I'd be crazy not to.
He's got such great on the job knowledge
and doctor Lan is so
easily relatable, and I feel very comfortable going
to him and asking him. Crush and getting
just kind of those nitty gritty details ironed
out whenever I have
something that's unique or situation that arises that
I don't have prior experience with. So We've
already connected multiple times already, and we're we're
rocking and rolling and heading down that road
where he can continue to be a great
mentor for me. We've I think as I
really think about both,
doctor Lan and Doctor Hammond, what's wonderful about
both of them and what I've appreciated about
their leadership is their vision and their real
connection to student learning and keeping that vision
in front of all of us as administrators
so that we can support our staff to
support our students in the very best way
possible. But also the 2 of them have
a knack for kinda getting out of our
way and letting us do our job with
those guard rails in place so that we
we have something to kind of bump up
against, But then we also can use our
own unique talents and abilities, to ensure that
we have successful programs under our belt. And
and while we're talking about school leaders, our
former superintendent, Tom Siegel recently retired after serving
this district. For more than 2 decades, you
served under him for a long time, what
did you learn from his leadership that you're
gonna use in your new role.
Mister... For
resolve was 1... He was a forced to
be reckon with and he is still a
force to be reckon with. I think that
that is is super inspiring because when he
identified a need in our community or for
our school district, he was like a dog
with a bones so to speak. And
you know, maintaining that unwavering commitment has has
changed this area that we are in here
where the Bethel school district resides, and it's
been through his advocacy that we've seen increased
funding and other legislative
updates that have impacted us in a positive
way in Bethel. And that was because of
his ad advocacy. And so I think that
what I take away from mister Siegel leadership
is that when you identify a need and
you identify something that's gonna benefit the people
you serve, keep at it. Even if roadblocks
get put in your way, find a way
around them and continue to seek out the
supports that your community needs.
Absolutely. Yeah. I couldn't agree more his 10
was something to be
admired and feared if you were in its
way for sure. I know that some legislators
have probably. Felt that way. Well, Connor, I
have a little surprise for you and for
you too, Melissa. I have prepared a little
trivia contest for both of you. Spelled gonna
cover a little bit of drag racing, a
little bit of summertime fun, and we'll see
who comes out on top. And I will
say that... Doug did not share me. Give
save. I can see a little. So when
I leave every single 1, know that that's
legitimately lose. Well, be that as it may,
We have this new state of the art
buzzer system that we are going to implement
right now. So... Test it out, doug. Make
sure it's working. Okay. Connor hit your buzzer.
Melissa try yours out. Buzzer Okay. I think
we are ready to go. So question number
1, and we'll start with the summer to
give everybody even footing
what
state?
In the United States has the hottest average
summer temperatures.
Melissa.
Arizona.
I'm gonna have to say no.
Because it's not the right answer.
Come Connor. Thanks for buzzing in. I'm going
to say
Texas.
Sorry but you're wrong.
Flow rider. Let's see is the hottest. Okay.
We're alright. Start straw. Starting very strong. Alright.
Let's jump over to a drag racing question,
And Melissa, I feel like you're gonna do
pretty well on these. So I'll start with
a tough 1. A according to the N
and I rule books at what age can
a child start racing a junior
drags.
Connor first in. 2 years old.
It's a great guess.
Yes. Melissa.
8 years old. 8. I'm both of you
wrong. I'm sorry. But both of you 3
points away 5 years old. Oh, great. Seems
awfully young, I was it's still older than
2.
5 to drive a car now race wouldn't
trust 5 year old, but thanks And I
don't know the difference between a drags in
a junior drags I no I like but
it's still driving a car. I would guess
was your. Source on insane.
Listen John Internet is never wrong.
Okay. Where were the hottest temperature church ever
recorded on earth.
Connor.
Flo.
Church You have to be more specific. Given
your revamp a band. No.
I like that you're using your new resources
there with that new fact wrong. I'm sorry.
Melissa.
The death valley desert area. Yes. Yay. That's
1 point for you. I will give you
a second point if you can be within
3 degrees of how hot it was.
Of that recorded temperature. So hottest temp ever
record on Earth was in death valley, it
was how hot. 126
degree
to the math. You are 8 off 01:34.1.
Yeah. That hud. On Saturday here.
So
Back to drag racing,
Melissa get your hand on the buzzer what
is the name of the starting equipment that
starts a race?
Look, might know. The tree?
It is. It has a formal name.
It just has a word that goes in
front of tree. If you want white tree.
Numb I'm half a point Christmas.
It really is called a Christmas trip. I
really wish I'd written out my story. Own
that. That's that used to be funny. You
feel like we should get Ducks show. Sorry
out this. I feel like it's asked jeep
for back in the day.
I don't know that jeep is accurate.
I don't I don't know either and this
one's even more questionable. The eiffel tower
grows Paris.
Las Vegas. Sorry. You have to buzz it
in, sorry. So
The eiffel tower grows every summer due to
thermal
expansion.
How much does it grow?
Melissa 6 feet. 6 feet, so close.
5 centimeters.
We didn't buzz in 1.
6
inches.
5 feet, 6 inches. No posted. 06:60.
You said 6 You said 6 feet. 5
6 Yeah. You were she made And the
chicks was. Did you mean inches? I did.
Oh, then you I told. Totally. Oh, yeah.
Okay. That's cool. I I trust you. I'm
not went in this. I didn't.
I didn't mean that. But We can pre
pretend. It'll be great. I need to get
on the board here. That's my goal now.
You do. And we only have 2 questions
left and unfortunately for you. They are both.
Good Drag race. My wheelhouse. Okay. Well, what
does the r
in Hr stand? Melissa? Ra.
I'm sorry. No.
Oh, Connor.
Ricky Bobby.
Like Rod. Yes. It's rod. National hot rod
associates. There you go. I don't know why
I said. Racing.
Ricky Bop.
Don't explain that. I'll be Ricky Bobby.
My icon. It's 1 question left. I need
you on the board. And and I know
you live your life.
A quarter mile at a
listen to my words.
How long was the
Sanctioned drag race before it was changed to
a thousand feet in 2008.
Connor. Half a mile.
I kid. I kid. I... Quarter miles. Of
course, whenever we go. I need that point.
We need a ding sound effect right here.
Fantastic. I don't remember what the score was,
but I think we all had fun and
that was the point of the whole thing.
Yeah. Bliss months and merit. Thank you for
being on the podcast test again. I think
now you're an official friend of the par.
Prospect, expect your pin in the mail. Thank
you. And I appreciate that. Thank you for
inviting.
Well, thank you again to Melissa Months and
merit our new executive director of special sir
services. Thank you to Connor. Second runner up
in the beauty contest. We called this trivia
contest. I'll take it. Well, this is very
smart. No shame in losing that. There you
go.
I'm Doug. That's Connor, and we will see
you again next week.