Advertise on podcast: SPS Podcasts

What does it take to keep students healthy, supported, and ready to learn? In this episode of the Future Ready podcast, Superintendent Dr. Adam Swinyard and Stephanie Slater sit down with Becky Doughty, Executive Director of School Support Services, to explore the growing network of health and wellness resources inside Spokane Public Schools. From the school-based health clinics operating at four high schools in partnership with CHAS, to the brand new clinic opening at Logan Elementary through a partnership with WSU's College of Medicine and Nursing, Spokane Public Schools is redefining what access to care looks like for students and families. Becky also shares how the district has worked to staff nearly every school with a nurse and a mental health therapist, and why that level of care is far from the norm across the region. We also hear from Addisyn Samuelson, licensed athletic trainer at Shadle Park High School, who is part of the district's partnership with Shriners Children's Hospital. Addisyn shares what it means to be a full-time presence for student athletes, from rehabbing injuries and reducing costs for families, to sitting with kids through the emotional toll of a season-ending injury. Her goal is as straightforward as it is meaningful: keep kids playing the sport they love, safely. Together, these stories paint a picture of a school district committed to supporting the whole child, because when students are healthy, they are ready to learn.

In this episode of the SPS Future Ready podcast, Board Director Nikki Lockwood shares her personal journey as a parent of a neurodiverse child and how it inspired her to run for the Spokane Schools Board. The conversation explores progress and ongoing challenges in special education, including inclusion, family advocacy, funding, language, and the importance of collaboration between parents and educators. Listeners also hear a parent story highlighting the impact of connection and advocacy, along with a look ahead at Lockwood’s hopes for inclusive programming, transition services, and strong community for students with disabilities.

This episode of the SPS Future Ready Podcast explores Spokane Public Schools' Native Education department and its remarkable achievements. Hosts Superintendent Dr. Swinyard and Stephanie Splater interview Board Director Jenny Slagle and Director of Native Education Tamika LaMere about the district's equity-centered approach to supporting Native students. The discussion covers the district's significant progress since 2020, including dramatic improvements in graduation rates (77% to 89%), attendance, and academic growth (over 200% increase). Key elements include elevating the Native Ed coordinator role to a director position, adding five staff members to work directly with students, and building strong partnerships with local tribes and urban Native organizations like the Native Project and American Indian Center. The episode highlights the district's commitment to teaching hard history through place-based learning, including the Community School's Native Voices project where students explore local Indigenous history through guest speakers and field experiences. The conversation emphasizes the importance of creating culturally affirming spaces where Native students can bring their whole selves to school, while ensuring all students learn authentic regional Native history rather than generic curriculum developed elsewhere in the state.

In this episode of SPS Future Ready, Superintendent Dr. Adam Swinyard and co-host Stephanie Splater dive into the transformative vision behind the Together Spokane initiative—a bold collaboration between Spokane Public Schools, the Parks Department, and community partners to reimagine shared spaces for kids, families, and neighborhoods. The episode highlights: Over 200 proposed projects across schools, parks, and neighborhoods aimed at increasing equity and access.A focus on getting kids off screens and into real-life engagement through recreation, athletics, and outdoor experiences.The importance of local investment in facilities to ensure families can enjoy enriching activities without leaving Spokane.Special guest Riley Stockton, Executive Director of Hoopfest, joins the conversation to discuss the impact of Together Spokane on the basketball community and youth sports. He emphasizes the urgent need for more court and field space to support programs like Hoop Town Youth League, which serves over 3,500 kids. Stockton shares insights on the proposed Franklin Park facility, a multi-use space near Madison Elementary that would support basketball, volleyball, pickleball, and more. Together Spokane is more than infrastructure—it’s about building a future where students thrive, families stay local, and the community grows stronger through shared experiences.

Join Spokane Public Schools' Superintendent Adam Swinyard and Executive Director of Athletics Stephanie Slater as they tackle one of the biggest challenges facing today's students: getting quality sleep. In this inaugural episode of the Future Ready podcast, they explore how excessive screen time and late-night phone use are disrupting students' sleep patterns and impacting their academic performance and behavior. The episode features insights from Dr. Anne Mason, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and Acting Dean at WSU College of Nursing, who breaks down age-appropriate sleep guidelines and explains the connection between daytime activities and nighttime rest. Rogers High School Principal John Hamill shares how the district's "Engage IRL" (In Real Life) initiative has successfully reduced phone dependence in schools and is now extending into healthy sleep habits at home. Key topics include practical tips for establishing phone-free bedrooms, the importance of sleep routines, and how families can work together to create healthy boundaries around technology use. This episode is part of Spokane Public Schools' broader effort to prepare students for success by addressing fundamental wellness needs that impact learning, behavior, and mental health. Perfect for parents, educators, and anyone interested in supporting student well-being in our increasingly digital world.

Stephanie and Nicole are joined by SPS Superintendent Adam Swinyard and Parks Director Garrett Jones to talk about Together Spokane, a bond/levy partnership between Spokane Parks and Spokane Public Schools. By working together and with a range of private partners, we can make strategic, fiscally responsible investments that benefit every part of our city—whether it’s ensuring our children have safe places to learn and play, expanding recreational opportunities for all ages, or creating vibrant spaces that bring our community together.

In the March episode of SPS Extra,  Stephanie and Nicole are talking about the Spokane Public Schools and Spokane Parks joint bond/levy initiative called Together Spokane.  In this sneak peak of the episode, hear from Greg Forsyth. He explains how bond dollars are critical to keeping schools functional.

Tim Fortune joins Stephanie Splater and Nicole Hernandez in this month's SPS Extra podcast to talk about CTE opportunities across the district. CTE, which stands for Career Technical Education, provides students with hands on experience in potential career paths. In this episode, we hear from teachers and students involved in Culinary Club and Construction Club. Both clubs teach students the basics of their field with hands-on classroom experience. Every year, students use their experience in CTE classes to secure part-time jobs or pursue full-time careers after graduating.

In the upcoming podcast, which releases Thursday, February 20th, Stephanie and Nicole talk about CTE opportunities available to students in SPS. Hear from students in culinary club and construction club, and staff about how beneficial these programs are for students.

In this episode of SPS Extra, Stephanie and Nicole talk with students and mental health experts about the benefits of participating in extracurricular activities. From elementary to high school, the students and their support systems see obvious benefits after being involved in their communities.

On every episode of SPS Extra, we feature student voice. Many of the students we've talked to told us they benefit from the extracurriculars they participate in.  On the January episode of SPS Extra, we're focusing on the benefits extracurriculars bring students. We're chatting with a student counselor and expert in youth mental health, as well as several student clubs.

Stephanie and Nicole sat down with all five SPS Engagement Navigators to talk about extracurriculars during the Fall semester. Hear from each of them about what activities have been popular at different schools and what the plan is to keep students engaged in real life as the school year continues.

The relationship between Spokane Public Schools and our numerous community partners is symbiotic, providing activities, support and community engagement for students, while bolstering the reach of our partners. In the November episode of SPS Extra, Stephanie Splater and Nicole Hernandez chat about how important our community partners are. Hear from Hoopfest, Treehouse and Spark Central, and learn about how community partnerships are born.

"I think it's beneficial for everybody," Riley Stockton, Executive Director of Spokane Hoopfest said about the partnership between Hoopfest and Spokane Public Schools.  Hoopfest is one of many SPS partners, all dedicated to providing students with more access and opportunity within the community. On this month's episode of SPS Extra, Stephanie Splater and Nicole Hernandez discuss the importance of community partnerships.  Hear from Hoopfest, Treehouse and Spark Central, and learn what goes into developing and maintaining partnerships that are mutually beneficial.

From the football field to the classroom, research proves youth involvement in extracurricular activities is beneficial, particularly when started at a young age. In this months episode of SPS extra Stephanie Splater and Nicole Hernandez talk about those benefits, including higher performance in academics, lower rates of externalized problems and increased success in the activity. "I can dream about these big things, since I'm really young," 6th grader Juliette Stevens said.  Juliette has been participating in All-Star Cheer for five years. In just sixth grade, she is already attending the Ferris Cheer Clinic to prepare for the high school level. Not only does that participation help the Juliette, it also helps the high school teams whose participants come in with experience and knowledge.  The five high school football coaches will be learning that soon, as the district's middle school football program started this year. Hear from North Central's coach and a student-athlete who has been committed to football since Kindergarten in the October episode of SPS Extra.