205 VIBE

Our host, Stephanie Pearson, sits down with Kennedy Middle School Principal, Kourtni Gray to discuss the schools improved scores and their unique challenges.

Host, Stephanie Pearson, rolls out the red carpet for Rolling Green Principal, Amy Powell, as they discuss the success and growth at Amy's school.

Our host, Stephanie Pearson, sits down with Loree Leathers to discuss her success and improvement at the STEAM Academy at Haskell.

Superintendent Dr. Ehren Jarrett sits down with our host, Stephanie Pearson, to discuss what the State Report Card means for Rockford Public Schools

Earl Dotson Jr. sits down with Marshall Elementary Principal, Sidney Graves, to discuss her school's improved ISBE scores and the misconceptions around the gifted program. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rps205-communications/message

Earl Dotson Jr. and Fine Arts Director Melissa Wolf talk with Fine Arts Hall of Fame Inductee Lon Hoegberg as he recounts how his time in the RPS school system prepared him for his career in theater tech. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rps205-communications/message

Earl Dotson Jr. and Fine Arts Director Melissa Wolf sit down with Fine Arts Hall of Fame Inductee CoCo Lemery to discuss her journey with Art and Education. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rps205-communications/message

Earl Dotson Jr. and Fine Arts Director Melissa Wolf sit down with Fine Arts Hall of Fame Inductee Peter Bond to discuss his music career and the education that started him on his journey. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rps205-communications/message

Earl Dotson Jr. and Melissa Wolf sit down with Rockford Public Schools Fine Arts Hall of Fame inductee Winnie Au to discuss her success in the world of photography --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rps205-communications/message

Earl Dotson Jr. sits down with Cherry Valley Elementary Principal, Carolyn Timm, to discuss her school's improving ISBE scores and how the changes have impacted her students. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rps205-communications/message

Earl Dotson Jr. learns all about snow sculpting from the Linda K. White Spirit Award winning team at Roosevelt comprised of Bazil Heaven Abbott, Dysen White, Kelsee Harris, and Marie Hanson. Also joining the conversation are team advisors and Roosevelt art faculty members Kyle Wolfe and Brian Hierstein. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rps205-communications/message

Join Earl Dotson Jr. as he sits down with Maria Montessori Principal, Candice Collins, to discuss the school's teaching philosophy and how they have worked to improve their ISBE scores. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rps205-communications/message

Earl Dotson Jr. talks to Board of Trustees member June Stanford about the first Coffee Chats event where Board members have the opportunity to connect with members of the community that they serve. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rps205-communications/message

We catch up with Flinn Middle School teachers Cara Wolfe and Aubrey Barnett about the Human Library Project, narrative storytelling in the middle school classroom, and N'Sync. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rps205-communications/message

Earl Dotson Jr. interviews the RPS 205 2023 Athletics Hall of Fame inductees including the East High School 1989 Sprint Relay Team, bowler Megan Buja (Jefferson High School), and running back Ira Matthews (East High School). --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rps205-communications/message

We chat with Fred Diehl, RPS 205 Director of Security Services, and Jason Barthel, RPS 205 Chief Information Officer. Hear what the district is doing to continuously improve security. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rps205-communications/message

Rockford Public Schools will launch an International Baccalaureate (IB) program at Conklin Elementary School. We sit down with IB Principal Mrs. Sarah Brenner to find out five things families should know about the globally recognized program. Learn more about the IB program here. https://rps205.com/ib --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rps205-communications/message

Education Outlook: Superintendent Ehren Jarrett was a guest on the Community Priority Series with the Rockford Chamber of Commerce in November. Dr. Jarrett shared insight about the district's work in preparing students for the workforce and how the business community can support our students and schools. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rps205-communications/message

Susan Fumo, Rockford Promise board vice president, tells us who should be thinking about the Rockford Promise scholarship program, when students should apply, how promise programs support communities, and what's next for expanding the program – LIVE on the 205 VIBE! Learn more: https://www.rps205.com/community/rockford-promise Visit Rockford Promise Website: Rockford Promise – Changing lives. Transforming the region. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rps205-communications/message

Dr. Antoine Reed grew up in Chicago and experienced inequities that he didn't realize existed until he saw other students' opportunities. Hear about his motivation, his approach to education and learning, and why he thinks Rockford is innovative. “In education right now, equity has become a new catch phrase from the top down. We're living that phrase. … So that's what made Rockford a unique place.” --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rps205-communications/message

RPS 205 Superintendent Ehren Jarrett outlines five things to know for the start of the 2022-23 school year. Tune in for updates on COVID-19, transportation and bus routes, staffing, plans for air conditioning, plus the reason behind late start Thursdays. It's all live on the 205 VIBE! More info: Health guidelines: rps205.com/parents/health School start times: rps205.com/parents/school-times Federal COVID Relief: rps205.com/about-rps-205/federal-covid-relief Transportation: rps205.com/parents/transportation Careers in RPS 205: rps205.com/careers --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rps205-communications/message

We get to know Dawn Williamson, who started in April as the Director of Athletics, Activities and Program Development. Hear how she became passionate about sports and why she is excited to serve Rockford Public Schools students and the Rockford community. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rps205-communications/message

We discuss a child's first five years and the importance of high-quality early childhood education with Kimberly Nelson, RPS 205 Executive Director of Early Childhood. We take a look at a day in the life of an early childhood student and how teachers facilitate learning through play. We chat about what it means to be kindergarten ready. Learn more about our Early Childhood programs here. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rps205-communications/message

We sit down with three Rockford Public Schools alumni enrolled in the Education Pathway program at Rockford University. Ryan Callahan, Jessica Pequena-Mendoza and Tony Ramirez are RPS 205 graduates who are now student teaching. Ryan, Jessica and Tony share insight on the importance of connecting with students and developing relationships to increase student engagement, being culturally sensitive to create a welcoming environment, and the impact the pandemic has had on teaching and learning. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rps205-communications/message

Superintendent Ehren Jarrett addressed the Rockford Chamber of Commerce Nov. 18 at the annual Education Outlook Luncheon. Dr. Jarrett connected his remarks to the biggest challenges facing our community, according to local leaders: education, safety and taxes. The event concluded with an education and workforce panel, featuring Dr. Jarrett, Rockford University President Dr. Eric Fulcomer, CEANCI System Director Margie Hartfiel, and Executive Director of Project First Rate Paul Nolley. www.rps205.com/205VIBE

Dr. Tiffany Brunson, RPS 205 Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, shares her passion for equity work and outlines the challenges district leaders are working to overcome.

We sit down for a formal goodbye with McIntosh Elementary School Principal Alfonso Gagliano as he retires after 50 years at RPS 205. Learn how his passion for education began and how his life experiences played into his successful career. Hear his retirement plans and his hopes for future students.

Three RPS 205 art teachers discuss teaching during the pandemic, plus finding art – and teaching others to love art – in Rockford and Rockford Public Schools. This podcast features art teachers Jason Judd from Auburn High School, Veronica Soria-Martinez from West Middle School, and Iga Puchalska from Cherry Valley Elementary and Maria Montessori. Listen LIVE on the 205 VIBE!

We chat with Scott Clark, fourth grade remote teacher at Johnson Elementary School, about his challenges and successes this school year. We hear how he builds relationships with families and keeps students engaged to create lifelong memories and make an impact beyond the classroom.

Hear candid conversation about remote teaching in RPS 205: “There is messiness to it. And it is hard. It’s hard to see what my kids are working on. But if you look at all of those negatives, and you don’t focus on what you can do, and what you’re going to do and what you’d like to do, and what the kids are able to do, then you’re going to be stuck in the messy.”

Assistant Deputy Chief Mike Dalke of the Rockford Police Department and RPS 205 Director of Career & Technical Education Reid Jutras join us on the podcast to talk about how providing real-world experiences both in and out of the classroom are important. Hear perspective from Assistant Deputy Chief Dalke about his criminal justice class he’s teaching in RPS 205, and how his practical experience translates to students in the classroom.

President/CEO Einar Forsman has a candid conversation with RPS 205 Superintendent Dr. Ehren Jarrett. The conversation will focus on changes in the school system due to COVID-19, the District’s scorecard, and the future of education.

We sit down with Heather Psaltis, Executive Director of Schools & Special Programs at Rockford Public Schools, to learn more about what makes our Special Programs unique in RPS 205. Click here to learn more! Special Programs at RPS 205 include. Maria Montessori at Marsh, STEAM Academy at Haskell, Two-Way Language Immersion at Barbour, The Gifted Academy and The Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA).

Learn About College & Career Academies in RPS 205 and what they are and why they are a unique approach to education in high school in an ever changing world.

We sit down with teachers in our Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) program: Beth Heuer from Auburn High School, and Julie Hindenburg and Dylan Ladd from West Middle School. We learn who they are and what makes CAPA unique in Rockford Public Schools.

We talk with Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara and Superintendent Ehren Jarrett about the challenges and successes of the school district and the city during the COVID-19 pandemic. Make sure to check out the other great blog post and videos on www.rps205.com/205VIBE

We sit down with Rockford Police Officer Curtis Sockwell, a member of the Rockford School Liaison Unit. Officer Sockwell spends most of his time at Auburn High School as a School Resource Officer. He talks about what it’s like working at Auburn and how he makes a difference connecting with RPS 205 students.

Learn more about Morgan Gallagher, Principal at Roosevelt Community Education Center.

A conversation with the Director of Security, Fred Diehl, about school safety at Rockford Public Schools.

Hear from Roosevelt students and staff and their ‘drive & passion to complete their education.’

Jason Barthel, Executive Director of Technology at Rockford Public Schools provides insight and details on the Ransomware attack that occurred in September and how his team worked to rebuilding the network and get systems back online.

A conversation with Superintendent's Student Advisory Council (SSAC) featuring  Jefferson Snedegar, from Guilford High School, Kerrigan Turek, from East High School and Aryan Arora, from Auburn High School.

Judge Mahoney served as the only magistrate judge in the Western Division until he resigned his position in 2012 and accepted recall. Judge Mahoney remained on recall through 2014. Judge Mahoney has done settlement conferences in literally thousands of cases during his tenure as magistrate judge.

Wally Haas is the Opinion Editor for the Rockford Register Star. We talk to him about what it is like working for the paper and his experiences with how Rockford counties to evolve.

Jonathan Logeman, is a teacher at Auburn High School he is also alderman for the City of Rockford, and National Guardsman. Listen to him talk about serving his community and his country.

Learn more about Mayor Tom McNamara and his vision for Rockford and what the City of Rockford is doing to achieve that vision.

Learn more about Taren Turner, Ellis Elementary School Principal. Listen to her perspective on what makes Ellis a special place.

East High School Athletic Director Gary Griffin talk about his experience with being a coach, an educator, and father. He explains why school comes first and why it is important to succeed in the classroom. www.rps205.com/205VIBE

Discussion about the Rockford Public Schools District and the role of a board member.

Learn more about Don Rundall, Jefferson High School Principal.

We talk with Deanna Lemcke a 2nd grade teacher at McIntosh Elementary about being a teacher.