Public School Podcast cover art

Public School Podcast

Public School Podcast

By: Amy Rose
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About this listen

Welcome to The Public School Podcast, where real stories, real people, and real passion for

education come together. Hosted by Sara Hornick, Executive Director of the Public School

Foundation, and Bobbi Schaefbauer, Community Relations Manager for Rapid City Area

Schools, we’re diving into the heart of public education.


Each episode, we sit down with community members, dedicated school staff, and passionate

advocates to ask one simple but powerful question:

Why do public schools matter?


From classroom wins to community-wide challenges, The Public School Podcast is your

front-row seat to the conversations that shape our students’ futures and our shared tomorrow.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Episodes
  • The Special Ed Help Desk

    The Special Ed Help Desk
    Feb 11 2026
    In this episode of the Public School Podcast, Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer sit down with Amanda Christensen, a special education program specialist who proudly describes herself as the district’s special ed help desk. Amanda shares her journey from Walmart management to education, how she found her purpose working with students, and why humor and humanity matter in some of the hardest conversations families face. The conversation explores early intervention, mental health, workforce development, IEP meetings, and the deep heart behind special education. Honest, funny, and deeply human, this episode shines a light on the people who never truly clock out and who work every day to do what’s best for kids.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    35 mins
  • When Art Connects Us

    When Art Connects Us
    Feb 4 2026
    What happens when first graders and high school artists team up on one creative project? Magic. In this episode of the Public School Podcast, Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer sit down with Luke Gorder from Central High School and Ashley Whitehead from Wilson Elementary to talk about a cross-school art collaboration that turned student drawings into custom plushies. This conversation dives into imagination, mentorship, empathy, and the power of art to build community across age groups. From joyful first grader reactions to motivated high school artists, this episode is a reminder that creativity connects us and that learning does not stop at classroom walls.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    29 mins
  • The Little Things Are the Big Things

    The Little Things Are the Big Things
    Jan 28 2026
    In this episode of the Public School Podcast, Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer welcome Robbinsdale Elementary paraeducator Toni Sabrowski, the school’s Support Person of the Year. Toni shares what it means to work in a K-2 Life Skills classroom, where small moments become big victories and every milestone is worth celebrating. Drawing from her personal experience as a mother of an autistic son, Toni talks about patience, teamwork, burnout, self-care, and the power of showing up with love and consistency. This heartfelt conversation shines a light on the often unseen heroes of public education and reminds us why paras are the cheerleaders, helpers, and steady presence students need to thrive.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    25 mins
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