Study Hall from School News Network

Grads contemplate life after high school: ‘We will be fine’

Mon, 18 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400

Holly Lawrence, Aluet Deng and Girum Merriman come from three different school districts, but they share an optimism about their futures and the good they can do in the world. All three are members of Kent ISD’s Student Leadership Community, 41 students from across Kent County who met throughout the school year to give input on their educational experience to Kent ISD Superintendent Ron Gorman and other leaders. In this episode of “Study Hall,” we talked with them about the ups and downs of high-school life, their plans for college and careers, and their concerns about what challenges they could face in the future.

For more great stories about the changes and challenges of school districts in West Michigan, check out our website, School News Network.org. And if you have ideas for future programs, feel free to send them to us at SNN@kentisd.org. Thanks for listening, and happy studying!

School resource officers vow to provide students ‘a safe place’

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:00:00 -0400

As schools have become ever more concerned with the safety and security of their students, school resource officers have taken on an increasingly important role. Public law enforcement officers trained to work in schools, SROs provide not just protection against bad actors but day-to-day support for students dealing with personal problems, from family issues to medical conditions. We talk with SROs Jon LaSotta and Chad Wells, Kent County sheriff’s deputies whose beat is the hallways of Kent City Community Schools.

WHS & WMU graduate’s mission: to be a voice for refugees

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:00:00 -0400

Mehran Najafi is deeply grateful to have come as a refugee from war-torn Afghanistan to the United States, where, he says, “you get to have a normal life.” Now a U.S. citizen, the graduate of Wyoming High School and Western Michigan University works with abused and neglected teens and hopes to work for the United Nations helping other refugees around the world.

We talked with Mehran about his four-year journey to America and his efforts to bring the rest of his family, who were approved for refugee status until the Trump administration suspended the program.

AI in the classroom: Can it enhance learning without replacing it?

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:00:00 -0500

Heads up, everyone: AI has arrived and it’s everywhere, including classrooms.

How can students responsibly use artificial intelligence tools to help them learn, not do their learning for them? How can teachers employ AI to amplify their lessons and keep cheating in check? We talk with two educators on the leading edge of AI-augmented instruction, Aaron Romoslawski in Forest Hills and Michael Kennedy in Grandville, about how teachers are creatively preparing students for a world that will be filled with AI.

How one teacher helps students beat national reading averages

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 15:00:00 -0500

Students in Michigan and nationwide are struggling with reading, but not in Amy Dyksterhouse’s classroom. The fourth-grade teacher at Kettle Lake Elementary School integrates reading skills into all subjects, as part of a K-5 curriculum that takes students from “learning to read to reading to learn.” We talk with her about why Caledonia’s reading scores rank well above state and national averages, and how she engages students with strategies like “brain movies.”

Click here to watch a short video on Amy Dyksterhouse leading a reading activity.

You can download this episode of “Study Hall” by clicking on the embed above, or listen to it right here on School News Network. If you would rather read our conversation, click on the Transcript tab here. You can also subscribe to the podcast through the RSS feed here, find it on many of your favorite streaming platforms, or listen to more episodes in the player below. A shorter version of this podcast can be heard on WGVU Public Media, 88.5 FM.

Teen musicians find passion, community in the ABC Orchestra

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0500

It’s barely past 6:30 a.m. but the student musicians of the ABC Orchestra are rocking hard on the Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24,” a heavy-metal arrangement of “Carol of the Bells.” The 32 members of this East Kentwood High School ensemble are trained in classical music but play “anything but” that genre in ABC, performing in other schools and community venues while learning how to be gig-ready musicians. SNN talks to students Millie Fernandez, Maggie Geurink and SJ Cale about growing as musicians and as people under ensemble director Ryan Wallace.

Couple shares ‘a calling’ to make a difference for students in urban schools

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 13:00:00 -0500

Whitley and Dan Morse met as new teachers in Grand Rapids Public Schools. Fifteen years later, the married couple are still there, Whitley as a teacher at Ottawa Hills High School and Dan as principal of North Park Montessori Academy. Their shared commitment to serving students in urban schools was recently honored as alumni of Davenport University’s College of Urban Education. They talk to SNN about why they’ve devoted their careers to helping GRPS students grow into their best selves and to giving back to the community.

Helping Ellie learn: ‘I want her to be a part of everything, just as she is’

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 11:00:00 -0400

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which requires children with disabilities be educated to the “maximum extent possible” with non-disabled students. At Meadow Ridge Elementary School in Rockford, Michigan, a team of educators is doing just that for Ellie Gard, a student with Down syndrome, who learns in a general-ed classroom alongside her second-grade peers. We talk with two of her teachers and her mother about how they work together to make this work.

Teaching for Tomorrow: A Michigan Collaborative's Answer to the Teacher Shortage

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 15:00:00 -0400

These days, school districts are looking for more than a few good teachers, with not enough people entering the teaching pipeline and too many leaving it. The West Michigan Teacher Collaborative aims to flip that script by helping aspiring teachers become certified and current teachers earn graduate degrees and endorsements. Susie Dennis and Angie Drake describe how WMTC has been “life-changing” for them as they pursue their certifications this school year.

State and federal funding ‘mess’ complicates return to school for local districts

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 14:00:00 -0400

As schools reopen the week of Aug. 18, their leaders lack the answer to a crucial question: How much money will they have to teach students? Political gridlock in the state Legislature and proposed drastic downsizing of education spending by the Trump administration have left major chunks of state and federal funding in limbo. Dan Behm, executive director of Education Advocates of West Michigan, breaks down the reasons for the logjam — and what lawmakers and citizens can do about it.

After first year in the classroom, new teacher loves her job: ‘I feel like I could just keep going’

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 13:00:00 -0400

At the start of the school year, Kent City first-grade teacher Marla Anderson said she was excited to begin her rookie year as a public-school teacher. At the end of the school year, she said she’s excited to begin her second year next fall. After talking with Anderson last September, we caught up with her on the day before school let out to see if she was still happy she went into teaching. The short answer? “I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

Multiracial Black Student Alliance celebrates ‘spreading culture and diversity’

Thu, 22 May 2025 14:00:00 -0400

Each week at City High Middle School this year, about two dozen high schoolers gathered to celebrate and learn about Black culture, from music and cooking to history and current issues. But the Black Student Alliance isn’t restricted to Black students; in fact, the majority are not African American. Founding members Elijah Jones and IMara Smith Skyers talk about the group’s ambitious array of activities and the importance of students from all backgrounds to share their cultural diversity.

Young brains, big potential: From birth onward, special-ed services can make a lifetime of difference

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 08:00:00 -0400

Q: How early do special-education workers in Kent County begin helping children with special needs? A: From the time they’re born. As part two of our discussion about the possible closure of the U.S. Department of Education and its potential impacts on special education, Study Hall talks with Lindsey VanDyke, a coordinator of Kent ISD’s Early On program serving children from birth until age 3. Serving an average of 3,000 children per year, Early On works with parents to identify their child’s developmental delays or disabilities and refer them to special-ed services that will maximize their educational growth and success in school and life.

What would closing U.S. Dept. of Education mean for special education in Kent County?

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 08:00:00 -0400

President Trump’s March 20 executive order calling for closure of the U.S. Department of Education has special-education advocates worried about the harmful impact that could have on services for students with disabilities.

In today’s episode, Kirsten Myers, Kent ISD assistant superintendent of student services, and Mark Higgins, special education finance supervisor, explain what special-ed programs provide, how they’re funded and how they could be harmed by dismantling or downsizing the U.S. DOE.

A career in auto repair? For some students, it starts in high school

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 14:00:00 -0500

We’ve all been there: the car won’t start and we don’t know why. That’s where auto mechanics save the day, and that’s what students are learning in Ron Denning’s automotive maintenance and repair class at Grandville High School.

Grandville is one of many districts building their own programs in career and technical education, alongside a Kent ISD effort to double enrollment in CTE programs by 2030. (Read our series on these efforts here.) In this episode, Denning and student Shane Pauuwe talk to host Charles Honey about the benefits and possible careers in auto repair and other CTE fields.

Community-school worker: immigrant students and families apprehensive about Trump deportation plans

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 13:00:00 -0500

Brianna Vasquez de Pereira, a Kent School Services Network coordinator in Kentwood, discusses the questions and fears of immigrant families about President Trump’s deportation plans. (Note: This podcast was recorded prior to President Trump’s inauguration and his order removing schools as sites protected from apprehensions by federal deportation agents.)

Touched by gun violence tragedies, social worker educates families to safely store their guns

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 08:00:00 -0500

As parents and educators grapple with the ongoing problem of gun violence in schools, ensuring safe storage of guns at home has become a prime focus of averting tragic shootings by young people. Eunice Benavidez, a social worker for Kelloggsville Public Schools, has launched a district-supported initiative to educate parents about safe gun storage in compliance with Michigan law. A volunteer for the Be SMART gun safety organization, she helps parents obtain gun locks and spreads the word that shootings are the leading cause of death for children and teens. We talk with Benavidez to see how well the initiative is going since its implementation earlier this year.

Be SMART offers free community presentations about secure firearm storage. To request a presentation in Kent County, email BeSmartGrandRapids@gmail.com. Elsewhere in Michigan, email BeSmartMichigan@gmail.com.

If you have ideas for future programs, feel free to send them to us at SNN@kentisd.org. Thanks for listening, and happy studying! Check out all the podcast episodes below.

No cell phones in class? It’s a good thing, this student and principal say

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0400

A recent survey found 72 percent of K-12 teachers say students being distracted by cell phones in their classroom is a major problem. Some states and school districts have adopted policies restricting their use by students during the school day, including Forest Hills Public Schools near Grand Rapids, Michigan. Study Hall welcomes David Simpson, principal at Northern Middle School, and Ari James, a senior at Northern High School, to see how that policy is going five years after it took effect.

First-year teacher wants students to know ‘you can have fun while learning’

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Study Hall welcomes Marla Anderson, who is just beginning her teaching career this fall as a first-grade teacher at Kent City Elementary School. A Kent City native, she is excited to enter a profession badly in need of new teachers. Along with her mentor, veteran kindergarten teacher Angela Sabin, Marla talks about the challenges and rewards of teaching, preparing her lessons and getting her classroom ready for the kids — including a brand-new coat of paint.

What it means to be a ‘Grad with Grit’

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 08:00:00 -0400

Kentwood — In this episode, “Study Hall” welcomes recent Crossroads Alternative High School graduate JB Barnes and his dad, Kevin Barnes. JB was recently featured as a Kentwood Public Schools Grad with Grit in School News Network because of his incredible academic turnaround — from nearly failing out of school to finishing his final semester with As and Bs.

JB has sickle cell disease, which causes chronic pain and other complications. He was hospitalized frequently during his school years, causing him to fall behind in class. He also had major behavioral issues, and the pain didn’t help his mood.

JB moved in with his dad, Kevin, at age 14, and Kevin’s guidance and advice helped JB make better choices. The pace and one-on-one attention at Crossroads also eventually led to a “180-degree” change for JB, teachers said, and a new outlook on the future.

Listen in as JB talks about why he made the changes he did and Kevin Barnes talks about why it’s important to keep believing in your children and supporting their dreams.

If you have ideas for future programs, feel free to send them to us at SNN@kentisd.org. Thanks for listening, and happy studying!

Superintendent and teacher talk about a decade of challenges and rewards

Tue, 28 May 2024 11:00:00 -0400

Study Hall welcomes Jerry Hopkins, Kenowa’s superintendent for the past 13 years, and Robyn Bradford, a district teacher for the past 32. The veteran educators reflect on a tumultuous decade that saw students forced to learn at home by a global pandemic, controversies over books and teaching content, and changes in family dynamics. Through it all, they agree, “students are students,” and schools strive to meet their needs, support their learning and fuel their dreams every day.

Counselor who overcame challenges clicks with middle schoolers

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 10:00:00 -0400

“Study Hall” welcomes Jordan Poisson, a Lee High School graduate who is now a school counselor at Westwood Middle School in Grand Rapids Public Schools. School News Network has followed Poisson’s story over the past 10 years as she went from a student overcoming the obstacles of living in poverty, to a college student pursuing several degrees, to now working as a school counselor herself. In this episode, Poisson talks about the highlights and challenges of working with middle school students, how she relates to them in a unique way and how she helps them learn about careers, college and other options for their future.

Advocating for people with disabilities with Lowell High School junior Ezequiel “Q” Gonzalez

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 10:00:00 -0400

Study Hall welcomes Lowell High School junior Ezequiel “Q” Gonzalez, who School News Network featured as a student leader in the article, "A voice for others, he inspires and educates." In this episode, Q talks about his involvement at Lowell High School in drama, choir and Model UN. As a person with disability, he talks about how systems impact people with disabilities, common misconceptions, and his dreams for the future.

Why teaching truth in history matters, with History Teacher of the Year Matt Vriesman

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0500

Study Hall welcomes East Kentwood High School history teacher Matt Vriesman, who was recently named National History Teacher of the Year by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Vriesman talks about his website Antiracist APUSH, which provides lessons to help students identify and expose policies that have led to racial disparities in American society. In his classroom, students learn that historians are on a quest for the truth and how learning the truth is empowering.

Welcome to Study Hall, a podcast about education magic

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 13:00:00 -0500

Founding Editor Allison Kaufman and Managing Editor Erin Albanese talk about how and why our uniquely cool School News Network.org publication was formed, what our laser-guided mission is and how our team of go-getter reporters goes about covering 20 school districts. Plus a brief discussion of classic table-top study hall games. Yes, it gets crazy, but it sure is fun!