WSD Voice

In an effort to get to know our district's new leader, students ask both personal and professional questions to our new Superintendent Adam Martin. Hosts: Sarah Davis, Director of Communications and Community RelationsProducer: Jane Tekiele, Video Production Coordinator

On this episode, we celebrate an outstanding senior from each of our high schools and meet the newly named 2025 Waterford Foundation Teacher of the Year.Guests: Vanaya Hill, Waterford Kettering High SchoolDeAngelo Pierfelice, Waterford Durant High SchoolJakob VanZweden, Waterford Mott High SchoolMeg Grossnickle, 2025 Waterford Foundation Teacher of the YearHosts: Sarah Davis, Director of Communications and Community RelationsLisa Eldredge, Interim Superintendent Producer: Jane Tekiele, Video Production Coordinator

Ready for an inspiring story? The latest episode of WSD Voicefeatures our incredible Lifetracks Program! Learn how this vital post-highschool program is building pathways to independence and success for studentswith special needs aged 18-26. Tune in to hear valuable insights from staff andsee just how Lifetracks is making a difference in our community.Guests: Nadine Milostan, Executive Director, Student Support ServicesKristen Robinson, Lifetracks Program CoordinatorHosts: Sarah Davis, Director of Communications and Community RelationsLisa Eldredge, Interim SuperintendentProducer: Jane Tekiele, Video Production Coordinator

Waterford School District has numerous organizations that provide untold amounts of resources and opportunities for our students and staff. We sat down with two of our biggest community supporters to discuss the importance of schools and the community working together.Guests: Director of the Waterford Chamber of Commerce Nikki TippettPresident of the Waterford Foundation for Public Education John HimmelspachHosts: Sarah Davis, Director of Communications and Community RelationsDarin Holley, Interim SuperintendentProducer: Jane Tekiele, Video Production Coordinator

Interim Superintendent Darin Holley; Director of Instructional Technology, Data and Assessment Elizabeth Kutchey; and Director of Communications and Community Relations Sarah Davis discuss the historic investments in curriculum and technology Waterford School District has made since 2020. When combined together, WSD has invested over $15 million dollars in those two areas. Guest: Director of Instructional Technology, Data and Assessment Elizabeth Kutchey Hosts: Sarah Davis, Director of Communications and Community Relations Darin Holley, Interim Superintendent Producer: Jane Tekiele, Video Production Coordinator

This September, Waterford School District invested $30 million in early childhood education when it opened its brand new Stepanski Early Childhood Center - the district’s first building in over 50 years. In this episode, Interim Superintendent Darin Holley, Stepanski Principal Andrea Bratton, Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations Sandy Elka, and Director of Communications and Community Relations Sarah Davis discuss the details of the grand opening and what it took to complete this amazing project. Guests: Stepanski Principal Andrea Bratton Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations Sandy Elka Hosts: Sarah Davis, Director of Communications and Community RelationsDarin Holley, Interim Superintendent Producer: Jane Tekiele, Video Production Coordinator

Waterford School District's Department of Human Resources is the recipient of a $ 2-million grant from the Michigan Department of Education. This grant will allow any WSD staff member interested in either obtaining an initial teaching certification or hoping to add more endorsements to attend college for free, fully covered by this grant. Guests: Susan File (Executive Director of Human Resources) Nichole Rinehart (Teacher, Grayson Elementary, Donelson Hills Elementary) Ergys Hasa (Building Substitute Teacher, Mott High School) Hosts: Sarah Davis, Director of Communications and Community Relations Scott Lindberg, Superintendent Producer: Jane Tekiele, Video Production Coordinator

This past year, our middle schools started using a new teaching method known as "teaming." In this episode, we explore the advantages and challenges of implementing this innovative approach to learning for our WSD sixth through eighth graders. Guests: Radhika Issac (Principal, Mason Middle School) Kyle Schultz (Principal, Pierce Middle School) Joe Brown (Teacher, Pierce Middle School) Kolbe Sudgen (7th grade, Pierce Middle School) Hosts: Sarah Davis, Director of Communications and Community Relations Scott Lindberg, Superintendent Producer: Jane Tekiele, Video Production Coordinator

WSD Voice, our award-winning school district podcast, has returned for Season 3 and is now available to listen/watch! In our first episode, we explore Link Crew, a peer-to-peer mentorship program at Mott and Kettering high schools where juniors and seniors welcome 9th graders to ensure they have a smooth journey through high school. Guests: Meg Grossnickle (Link Crew Coordinator/Language Arts Teacher, Kettering) Ashlyn Campbell (12th grade, Kettering) Mateo Santiago (11th grade, Kettering) Andrew Miller (Link Crew Coordinator/Science Teacher, Mott) Erick Guillen (12th grade, Mott) Hosts: Sarah Davis, Director of Communications and Community Relations Scott Lindberg, Superintendent Producer: Jane Tekiele, Video Production Coordinator

In this episode, we focus on some of the amazing accomplishments both staff and students achieved during the 2023-2024 school year. First, we talk to three of our Waterford School District 2024 graduates to learn their plans for the future. Next, we meet April Lennox, our 2024 Waterford Foundation Teacher of the Year. Guests for the 2024 graduates discussion: Thomas Kauwe, Senior, Mott High School Avery Stretten, Senior, Durant High School Aiden Reynolds, Senior, Kettering High School Guests for the 2024 Waterford Foundation Teacher of the Year discussion: April Lennox, 4th grade teacher, Haviland Elementary Hosts: Sarah Davis, Director of Communications and Community Relations Scott Lindberg, Superintendent Producer: Jane Tekiele, Video Production Coordinator

In our latest episode of WSD Voice, we discuss some of the amazing STEM Robotics opportunities we have at WSD for all grade levels.   Guests:  Ashley Proulx, third grade teacher at Schoolcraft Sarah Yates, fifth grade teacher at Riverside, plus FRC Team members Gavin Wagner (11th, Mott) and Mia Schipono (10th, Kettering) Tanya Cannon, fourth grade teacher at Cooley, and her three STEM students: Charlie Grower (3rd), Jewel Carter (4th) and Issac Lakatos (4th) Watch the episode. Resources: STEM Academy Waterford Community Education

Tune in to the first episode of Season 2 to learn how Waterford School District rated in the top 10% of school districts nationwide for developing and executing a comprehensive safety and security plan. This episode also features discussion surrounding an innovative Social Emotional Learning program started by the principal at Donelson Hills Elementary. Guests: Jim Beaver, WSD Director of Operations and Security Anne Kruse, Donelson Hills Elementary Principal  Hosts: Sarah Davis, Director of Communications and Community Relations Scott Lindberg, Superintendent Producer: Jane Tekiele, Video Production Coordinator

In this episode, we focus on some of the amazing accomplishments both staff and students achieved during the 2021-2022 school year. First, we meet Sue Case, our 2022 Waterford Foundation Teacher of the Year. Next, we talk to three of our Waterford School District 2022 graduates to learn their plans for the future.  Guests for the 2022 Waterford Foundation Teacher of the Year discussion: Sue Case, Teacher, Grayson Elementary Samantha Lam, Principal, Grayson Elementary Rick West, Nominator/Father of Grayson student Guests for the 2022 graduates discussion: Abby Stauber, Senior student, Mott High School Alexander Salazar, Senior student, Durant High School Noah Khanuja, Senior student, Kettering High School  Hosts: Sarah Davis, Director of Communications and Community Relations Scott Lindberg, Superintendent Producer: Jane Tekiele, Video Production Coordinator

In honor of National School Breakfast Week (March 7-11, 2022) and National Nutrition Month, the first segment of this episode focuses on our Food and Nutrition Services Department. Then, in recognition of March as Music in our Schools and Theater in our Schools month, we highlight WSD's music and theater programming.  Guests for Food and Nutrition Services discussion: Michael Williams, Director, Food and Nutrition Services Tina Rompa, Assistant Cook, Pierce Middle School Kristen Woods-Helms, Principal, Durant High School  Guests for Music/Theater in our Schools discussion: Jason Pratt, Theater Teacher and Performing Arts Center Coordinator, Kettering High School Cory Wholehan, Music Teacher, Schoolcraft, Riverside, Grayson elementaries; Mott High School Marching Band Jaylin Thompson, Sophmore student, Kettering High School Bella Ziegler, Senior student, Mott High School Resources: Waterford School District Food and Nutrition Services  Hosts: Sarah Davis, Director of Communications and Community Relations Scott Lindberg, Superintendent Producer: Jane Tekiele, Video Production Coordinator

This is the first episode of WSD Voice, a Waterford School District podcast that focuses on topics geared toward inspiring, educating and empowering our students, staff, alumni and community.  In the first segment of this episode, we interview members of our Student and Family Engagement Department (SAFE) and in the second segment, we talk to teachers and students participating in Waterford's new Problem-Based Learning (PBL) K-8 teaching initiative.  Guests for SAFE discussion: Ashley Gray, Coordinator for SAFE Alison Upleger, Behavior Support Specialist for SAFE Nichelle Clark, Behavior Support Specialist for SAFE  Guests for PBL discussion: Elizabeth Kutchey, Assessment Coordinator Susan Case, 3rd Grade Teacher, Grayson Elementary Klara Cavali, 7th Grade Student, Pierce Middle School  Resources: SAFE office: 248.257.6952 Problem-Based Learning website Hosts: Sarah Davis, Director of Communications and Community Relations Scott Lindberg, Superintendent Producer: Jane Tekiele, Video Production Coordinator

In this episode, we focus on some of the amazing accomplishments both staff and students achieved during the 2022-2023 school year. First, we meet Chris Braue, our 2023 Waterford Foundation Teacher of the Year. Next, we talk to three of our Waterford School District 2023 graduates to learn their plans for the future.  Guests for the 2023 Waterford Foundation Teacher of the Year discussion:Chris Braue, Teacher, Mason Middle SchoolRadhika Issac, Principal, Mason Middle SchoolCharlie McClain, Nominator/7th grader at Mason Middle School Guests for the 2023 graduates discussion:Madison Loriaux, Senior student, Kettering High SchoolNolan Lazuka, Senior student, Mott High School J Leigh Saunders, Senior student, Durant High School  Hosts:Sarah Davis, Director of Communications and Community RelationsLisa Eldredge, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Services Producer:Jane Tekiele, Video Production Coordinator

Did you know our two high schools - Mott and Kettering - boast 41 different programs with 81 teams for a combined total of approximately 115 coaches and over 1,000 student participants? In this episode, we explore this and other interesting facts about our amazing athletic programming at Waterford School District. Guests: Allison Sartorius, AthleticDirector Kalieb Osborne (11th grade, Mott) Karli Koskinen (10th grade, Mott) Emily Medford (11th grade, Kettering) Zarek Zelinski (12th grade, Kettering) Resources: ⁠Waterford Athletics⁠ Hosts: Sarah Davis, Director of Communications and Community Relations Scott Lindberg, Superintendent Producer: Jane Tekiele, Video Production Coordinator

In this episode, we discuss the recent changes our English Language Development Department has undergone, as well as explore the amazing academic opportunities this department offers our students.  Guests: Jessica Ristich, English Language Development Consultant Migdalia Rodriguez, Parent Resource Assistant Laurie Runk, 4th grade Teacher at Grayson Elementary Clarys Harwood, English Language Development Specialist   Hosts: Sarah Davis, Director of Communications and Community Relations Scott Lindberg, Superintendent Producer: Jane Tekiele, Video Production Coordinator