Podcasts about indian river school district

Our Conversation With Dr. Jay Owens, Indian River School District'sSuperintendent (Delaware). The Cash Expense Referendum Coming On March 20, 2025Support the show

Many of us have probably heard the acronym “IEP,” but do we really know what it means and what it's all about? Director of Special Education Melissa Whisted and Supervisor of Special Education Patti Harris are here to explain this essential tool for students receiving special education services in the Indian River School District.

October 5 will be a special day in the Indian River School District, as we host our first-ever We Are IRSD Community Festival on the campuses of the Howard T. Ennis School and Sussex Central High School. Nika Reid, IRSD Supervisor of Support Services, gives us all the details about this exciting event. “Stay” courtesy of Hotel Apache and California Pop is Not Dead, 2017.

They've come from far and wide to join the Indian River School District team and bring with them a wealth of skills and talent. In this Back to School episode for 2024-2025, we meet four new IRSD administrators – Dr. Melissa Whisted, Patricia Harris, Carolyn Fries and Dr. Andrew Davis. All have come from outside the district, with one relocating nearly 3,000 across the country to join the IRSD team. “Stay” courtesy of Hotel Apache and California Pop is Not Dead, 2017.

After serving four years as an assistant principal at Indian River High School, Dr. David Carter has moved into a new position as the principal of Georgetown Middle School. Throughout his time in the Indian River School District, he's forged a strong bond with students and has never hesitated to sing their praises on his school's social media pages. In this episode, Dr. Carter sits down with us to discuss his new position and his career in education and beyond.

There were some new faces around the Indian River School District office when the 2023-2024 school year began this past summer. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Alexis MacLeish, the district's new Talent Acquisition and Certification Specialist, and Mr. Matt Schifano, the new Adult and Community Education Coordinator. Both are former teachers who are taking on new challenges in their professional careers.

Phillip C. Showell Elementary School music teacher Debby Dudley has 42 years of service in the Indian River School District, by far the most of any district teacher. Her remarkable career began in the late-1970s and has included stints at four IRSD schools. She consistently earns high praise from administrators, colleagues, parents and students. Debby joins us in this episode to talk about a distinguished career in education that has spanned more than four decades.

Lori Smyth's roots in the Indian River School District run deep. She is an Indian River High School graduate, a district parent and a local business owner. Her husband is also an Indian River graduate and her father was an IRSD employee for 32 years. Lori also has an incredible story of escaping Lower Manhattan on September 11, 2001. She shares that story in this episode. (“Your Hand in Mine” courtesy of Explosions in the Sky and Temporary Residence, 2003.)

In this episode, Superintendent Jay Owens joins us to answer questions submitted by “residents” of the Indian River School District.

In this episode, we take a look at the Girls on the Run program, which has become extremely popular at elementary and middle schools throughout the Indian River School District.

In this episode, we speak with new IRSD Superintendent Dr. Jay Owens and new Assistant Superintendent Mrs. Karen Blannard about their careers, their philosophies on education and their vision for the Indian River School District.

In this episode, we highlight the upcoming major capital improvement referendum on February 13. Superintendent Mark Steele talks about the importance of this initiative and its impact on the future of the Indian River School District.

In this episode, Walt Smith, Supervisor of Alternative Programs, discusses the issue of homelessness in the Indian River School District and the services provided to students who are in transition.

In this special episode, we look back at the contentious issue of school consolidation and the formation of the Indian River School District in 1969. In Part 1, we review the history of consolidation and the merging of five small school districts 50 years ago. In Part 2, we speak with two people who were students at the time of consolidation and ask about its impact on their schools. In Part 3, we pay tribute to the man who was considered “The Father of the Indian River School District.” In Part 4, we discuss consolidation’s impact on high school athletics. In Part 5, we analyze the impact of consolidation during the past 50 years and look ahead to the future. Information for this episode was obtained from the archives of The News Journal and from James Marvel’s Indian River School District History of Consolidation. “Spirit in the Sky” courtesy of Norman Greenbaum and Reprise Records, 1969.

In this episode, we talk with Millsboro Middle School teacher Art Henry, who was named the Indian River School District’s Teacher of the Year for 2019-2020.

Selbyville Public Library Director Kelly Kline and social worker Dorian Baker talk about a unique partnership that is making social workers available to Indian River School District residents.

In the second of our Back to School episodes, Dr. LouAnn Hudson discusses new instructional programs for the 2017-2018 school year while Dr. Jay Owens talks about special education services in the Indian River School District.

In the first of two Back to School episodes, Superintendent Mark Steele discusses the upcoming 2017-2018 school year while Tyler Bryan talks about bus transportation in the Indian River School District.

IRSD Superintendent Mark Steele discusses his 36-year career as a teacher, coach and administrator in the Indian River School District. Mr. Steele was named district superintendent in January 2017 and also talks about the challenges he’s faced during his first six months on the job.

In this special episode, school counselors Erin Crooks and Marie Keffer give their impressions of the popular television series “13 Reasons Why” and discuss what parents and students can do to prevent teen suicide. Suicide prevention resources are available on the Indian River School District website at irsd.net. Go to the Parents & Students tab at the top of the page and click on “Bullying and Suicide Prevention Resources” in the drop-down menu.

Interim Superintendent Mark Steele discusses the upcoming current expense referendum on March 2 and its importance to the future of the Indian River School District.

What does it take to feed more than 10,000 children on a daily basis from September through June? Clifton Toomey, Supervisor of Nutrition Services for the Indian River School District, talks about what goes into running food service operations at 15 school cafeterias.

Belinda Waples, Director of Special Education, and Kim Taylor, Special Outreach Services Coordinator, discuss student mental health services in the Indian River School District.

Lori Hudson discusses her role as a teacher recruiter and mentor in the Indian River School District.

Dr. Susan Bunting has been superintendent of the Indian River School District since July 2006. Prior to assuming the head leadership position she spent 28 years in the district as a middle school language arts teacher, an elementary gifted/talented teacher, Supervisor of Elementary Instruction and K-12 Director of Instruction. An experienced conference presenter at both state and national conferences, Dr. Bunting co-created Indian River’s Leadership Institute, which has been recognized as a Superstar in Education by the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, she designed and leads the district’s Administrative Development Program, and created Project V.I.L.L.A.G.E., the district’s program for economically challenged four-year-olds. In 2012, Bunting was nominated as one of the four finalists for the National Superintendent of the Year award by the American Association of School Administrators—the first superintendent in Delaware to achieve this distinction.   About EducatorsLead: Educators Lead is a podcast created to help launch educators into the next level of leadership. This show is for you if you are interested in educational leadership as an assistant principal, principal, superintendent, teacher or someone who hopes to be a school leader one day. Educators Lead offers inspiration and practical advice to help you lead more effectively. Jay Willis interviews school leaders three days a week to discuss why and when these educators made the decision to move into school leadership, challenges along the journey, and stories that made it all worthwhile. Educators Lead is a great resource for any educator looking to make a greater impact. Educate. Inspire. Lead. www.educatorslead.com  

Board of Education President James Hudson discusses his career in education and how an increase in enrollment has impacted the Indian River School District.

This year we celebrate national School Nurses Day by reflecting on school nursing highlights, our growing importance, and wish lists of what school nurses need and want. Follow: @schoolnurses @bamradionetwork Lara Booth currently serves as the Float and Lead nurse for the Indian River School District, Sussex County Delaware and as the Secretary for DSNA. Carolyn Duff, MS, RN, NCSN is President-elect of the National Association of School Nurses. A school nurse for fifteen years, she is a Nationally Certified School Nurse employed as an elementary school nurse in Columbia, South Carolina.