Welcome to Bulldog Pride, the official podcast of Iola Independent School District in Texas. Join us as we spotlight the students, educators, coaches, and community members who make Bulldog Nation special. From Friday night lights to classroom achievements, state competitions to hometown heroes, we share the stories that define small-town excellence.
Each episode takes you behind the scenes of life at Iola ISD, where tradition meets innovation and every student has the opportunity to shine. Whether you're a current family, prospective parent, alumni, or community supporter, discover why Iola truly is a hidden gem in the heart of Texas.
Plus, don't miss "Spike's Top Dog Trivia" - our fun segment featuring friendly competition and Bulldog history.
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14 - Leading with Heart: Elementary Leadership Reflects on the Year
This week on the Bulldog Pride Podcast, we're wrapping up the school year with Iola Elementary's leadership team! Host Amanda Rollert sits down with Principal Hollie Guillbeau and Assistant Principal Lauren Sanders during their final week of school to reflect on an incredible year. These dedicated leaders share how they focused on celebrating students as individuals and bringing back beloved traditions like Grandparents' Breakfast, Vocabulary Parade, Color Run, and fun national days. They cre...
21 May 2026
15 - Top of the Class: Valedictorian & Salutatorian Celebrate Success
This week on the Bulldog Pride Podcast, we're celebrating academic excellence! Host Amanda Rollert sits down with Assistant Principal and Girls Athletic Director - Miss, Valedictorian - Shaylee McKown, and Salutatorian - Ava Bessette, during the final week of school to honor these remarkable seniors. Miss reflects on watching these young women grow up through volleyball camps, Little Diggers, and PE since sixth grade. Both Shaylee and Ava are all-state volleyball players who helped bring home...
19 Mar 2026
13 - Little Bulldogs, Big Hearts: PreK - 5th Student Spotlight!
This week on the Bulldog Pride Podcast, we're hearing directly from the students! Host Amanda Rollert and Elementary Principal Ms. Guilbeau sit down with one representative from each grade (Pre-K through 5th) to hear what makes being an Iola Bulldog so special. Meet our student panel: Pre-K student - Ramsey Gillis, Kindergartner - Cameron Jolly, 1st grader - Rhys Abbott, 2nd grader - Josiah Smith, 3rd grader - Everly Jackson, 4th grader - Eve Hurst, and 5th grader - Kolman Barksdale. These yo...
5 Mar 2026
12 - Elementary Special Teams: Where Every Kid Shines
This week on the Bulldog Pride Podcast, we're celebrating Iola ISD Elementary's Special Teams! Host Amanda Rollert sits down with PE teachers - Ryanne Jolly and Coach Jayme Timm, Art/Music teacher - Gayla Blenden, and Library/GT teacher - Kylie Hammack to discuss how they build relationships, foster creativity, and help every student discover their unique gifts. These dedicated educators share how they connect with students they see on rotation—through movement in PE, creativity in art and mu...
26 Feb 2026
11 - Keeping Iola Running: Meet the Maintenance Team
This week on the Bulldog Pride Podcast, we're going behind the scenes with the crew that keeps Iola ISD running smoothly! Host Amanda Rollert sits down with Maintenance Director Mr. Anthony Marks and team members Mr. Michael Evans and Mr. Rudy Galvan. These dedicated team members share what their day looks like—arriving before students and staff, responding to urgent issues with an "all hands on deck" approach, and handling everything from AC repairs and door closures to mowing fields and ret...
12 Feb 2026
10 - Tenacious & Revolutionary: Senior Band Spotlight
This week on the Bulldog Pride Podcast, we're celebrating the sound and spirit of Iola Band! Host Amanda Rollert sits down with Band Director Mr. Taylor Fowler and six incredible seniors: Head Drum Major - Haley Hejl, Assistant Drum Major - Fallon Smith, and Band Members - Emmy Renfro, Addy Cerrillo, Blake Whitaker, and Steven Chavez. These seniors—most playing their instruments for seven years—share what makes band so special: the lifelong friendships, leadership opportunities, and the const...
8 Jan 2026
9 - New Year, New Beginnings: Staff Spotlight at Iola ISD’s Middle School & High School
This week on the Bulldog Pride Podcast, we're kicking off 2026 by celebrating Gold Star Peer Award winners from Iola’s High School & Middle School campuses and welcoming a new staff member to the Iola family! Meet our award winners: January Paraprofessional - Wendy McKown, December Employee of the Month - Cathy Oliver (US & TX History), Paraprofessional Newcomer - Kamryn Michael, Overall Newcomer - Taylor Fowler (Band Director), and September Employee of the Month - Debbie Lero (...
This week on the Bulldog Pride Podcast, we're celebrating some truly exceptional educators! Host Amanda Rollert sits down with Iola Elementary's Employees of the Month, Newcomer Teacher of the Semester, and Paraprofessional of the Semester for a heartwarming conversation about what it means to serve with grace, grit, and growth. Meet this incredible group of award winners: August Employee of the Month Christy Steinmann, September Cathy Wheaton, October Kara Shive, November Shaina Bostick, Dec...
20 Nov 2025
7 - Grateful Hearts & Holiday Traditions with the 4th Grade Teaching Team
This week on the Bulldog Pride Podcast, we're getting cozy with Iola Elementary's 4th grade teaching team just in time for Thanksgiving! Host Amanda Rollert sits down with ELAR teacher - Brinley Bennett, Math teacher - Michele Sullivan, and Science/Social Studies teacher - Shayanne McKown for a heartwarming conversation about traditions, gratitude, and what makes teaching 4th grade so special. These three teachers share their journeys to Iola and what keeps them here—from Ms. Sullivan calling...
13 Nov 2025
6 - Playoff Pride: Football & Volleyball Battle for Glory
This week on the Bulldog Pride Podcast, it's all about playoff season! Host Amanda Rollert sits down with both the volleyball and football programs as they make their postseason runs. We've got Girls Varsity Coach, Miss, and Varsity Football Coach, Eric Blenden, alongside their senior leaders who are leaving it all on the court and field. On the volleyball side, seniors Ava Bessette (Libero), Rylee Goodney (Setter), Kylan Thomas (Defensive Specialist), and Shaylee McKowan (Outside Hitter/Defe...
30 Oct 2025
5 - Elementary Student Council Spotlight: Leadership in Action
This week on the Bulldog Pride Podcast, we're hanging out with the rock stars of Iola Elementary's Student Council! Host Amanda Rollert sits down with President Kroy Larson, Vice President Teddy Fowler, Secretary Eve Hurst, and Treasurer Sadie Steinman for a fun and heartfelt conversation about what it means to be a leader. These young leaders share their thoughts on responsibility, kindness, and what being an Iola Bulldog is all about. Spoiler alert: it's about doing your best even when no o...
16 Oct 2025
4 - Junior High & High School Leaders
On today's episode, I sit down with Iola's Junior High & High School leadership team: High School Principal - Brian Fowler, High School Assistant Principal - MISS, Junior High Admin & Teacher - Mandy Schwanke, Junior High History Teacher - Cathy Oliver, and High School Math Teacher - Debbie Lero. This crew shares their diverse paths into education, from former jocks to psychology majors who took math classes for fun, to late bloomers who found their calling in their thirties. The team...
2 Oct 2025
3 - First Grade Magic: Light Bulbs & Breakthroughs
We spend time with Iola's 1st grade teaching team: Steven McGuire, Leighton Brackin, and Denise Frazier. These teachers share what makes first grade so special - the incredible growth students make in reading and writing, those "light bulb moments" when concepts finally click, and how they create a classroom community where kindness is practiced daily. Mr. McGuire talks about keeping learning fast-paced and hands-on with brain breaks and dance parties. Ms. Brackin shares how her students have...
18 Sept 2025
2 - Elementary Excellence: Grit, Grace & Growth
We sit down with the powerhouse team from Iola Elementary: Principal - Hollie Guilbeau, Assistant Principal - Lauren Sanders, School Nurse - Saundra Elliott, and GT Teacher - Kylie Hammack. These ladies share what makes their campus special - the "grit, grace, and growth" motto, morning huddles that set the tone, and how relationships are at the center of everything they do. They recap this week's successful grandparent lunch and look ahead to upcoming events like homecoming spirit week...
3 Sept 2025
1 - Introducing the Bulldog Pride Podcast: Small Town, Big Impact!
Welcome to the very first Bulldog Pride Podcast! We kick things off by getting to know the folks steering the ship at Iola ISD. Superintendent, Jeff Dyer, shares his unique story of being a hometown kid who came back home after 20+ years to lead the district where he grew up. Athletic Director and Head Football Coach, Eric Blenden, talks about finding his perfect fit in Iola after 16 years in education - a place where he's excited to raise his own kids. We dive into what makes Iola special: t...
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