The Engaging Bobcats Podcast is a conversation with and about the Meridian CUSD 101 School Community. Each month we sit down with game-changers from and within this community and talk about the differences they’re making, are a part of, or are witnessing. We talk with teachers, students, administrators, parents, community volunteers, alumni, coaches, and others who are committed to making the absolute most of educating the kids who attend our school. You are invited to submit your ideas for how we can improve our podcast and share ideas for guests you think we should have on. Reach out to us at the school or through our producer, Journey12 at info@journey12.com. We are all committed to being responsive to the needs of our community and, if you’re listening, that’s you! We’re glad to have you with us!
We sit down this month with Marleis Trover, someone who brings immense passion, not only to her role as an educator, but to her role as an advocate for educational equity and a passer of the administrative torch. I’ve known Marleis for years, and have seen her on numerous occasions, standing up for our kids, and making pathways for the betterment of her fellow educators through her work at McKendree University with doctoral candidates and superintendent candidates. In a word, Marleis is dedic...
22 Oct 2022
Promoting Healthy Futures: Environment is Everything
We welcome Meridian teaching phenoms Jennifer Beshue and Lisa Thomas aboard our podcasting ship to talk about Meridian schools' unique, organic culture and how it benefits everyone involved. The pair break down the reputation of Meridian as a "family" and highlight the exceptional support they receive from other faculty. We brainstorm about what can be done to provide better resources for students outside of the school, and we're so grateful to receive their insight into the challenges and sc...
30 Aug 2022
Making yourself available for your best future: Pathways & Possibilities
We had the honor to speak with Teale Betts at Shawnee Community College about some of the programs and pathways she has to help Meridian students not only prepare for their success while still in high school, but to provide postsecondary support once they’ve graduated. The Meridian School community is so lucky to have access to education advocates and career professionals like Teale, and, as you’ll hear in our conversation, there is no shortage of enthusiasm for the work she does or for the k...
20 Jun 2022
A behind-the-scenes visit with Meridian’s education enabler
Randy Gardner is the Director of Maintenance for Meridian, and he supervises a 10-person crew who make sure the buildings and all the mechanical systems serving them remain clean, functional and safe. When there’s a new playground, roof, or fencing system to install, Randy is the person the district turns to to make sure it’s done right. In advance of last month’s Field Day, Randy even saw to it that a 100-foot Zipline was installed on the grounds. In short, there isn’t any aspect of the scho...
20 May 2022
Mr. Malcolm Larry and a shout-out to the Class of ’22
Today is Friday, May 20th, one day before the Meridian Class of ’22 walks across the stage and receives their high school diplomas. I just want to say how proud I am of the young people of this remarkable school community. During this past year, I have had the opportunity to speak with dozens of these kids and have come to better understand their hopes and dreams as well as their tragedies, setbacks, and frustrations. But, to a person, each and every Meridian student I have had the honor to m...
17 May 2022
Meridian Rising: On the strength of their wings
Napoleon Cook, Ben Tucker, and Jabron Bedward have plans for the days, months, and years that will follow their graduation on Saturday. They’re pragmatic young men. But they’re also brave young men, willing to dream and to take risks necessary for positioning themselves for a positive future. And as I held a nearly 30-minute conversation with them, it occurred to me that everything is created twice: First in the mind, and second in reality. No one thing worthy of pursuit happens without first...
26 Apr 2022
Exploring Postsecondary Paths: The Big 8
This month we discuss the 8-primary postsecondary paths taken by high school seniors after graduation. While Beyond the Tassel’s primary focus is on strategies and insights to make the most of the college admissions process, we recognize that college isn’t for everyone. In our episode for April, we lift the hood on, and take ‘The Big 8’ for a spin. Military, Trade School, Community College, Travel the World, Family Farm or Business, Start a Business, 4-Year College, and World of Work. W...
20 Jan 2022
The Joy and Positivity in Celebrating Progress NOT Perfection
On this episode, we’ll hear two outstanding Meridian educators talking about how they’ve navigated Covid along with the importance of ‘seeing students,’ of helping them to understand the joy in accountability, and of finding the positive in even our most challenging circumstances. You’ll hear the conviction in their voices, and as you listen I suspect, like me, it will occur to you that Lisa Harris and Maryanne Boren are exactly where they should be, and that the students in their care at Mer...
15 Nov 2021
Meridian: What makes us who we are and how have we changed for the better?
Today we meet 5th grader, Reign Green, and discuss her plans for the future along with LaTasha Mandrell’s ideas about what makes our school community so unique. Superintendent, Jon Green, also weighs in on how far we’ve come in the last nearly half-decade as a school. Despite the challenges that we’ve all experienced through the COVID-19 crisis, Meridian Schools have made huge strides over the last several years and it’s worth noting the educational investments being made in the future of our...
13 Sept 2021
Keyth Blissett and Maryanne Boren on Meridian’s Key Strengths (It’s the kids)
For our September episode, we sit down with Maryanne Boren, Principal of the Junior High and High School, and A/V Teacher, Keyth Blissett. We explore Meridian’s ‘secret sauce,’ talk about its uniqueness as a school community and chat about a few of the programs that have caught our attention, including a personal finance class and some audio-video programming, both taught by Mr. Blissett.
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