The GIPS Cast

Breanna McDonald is a community builder. Mrs. McDonald has been with GIPS for a decade, with the last four years serving as the Principal of Lincoln Elementary.  As a former Kindergarten Teacher and Academic Support Coach, she has a big heart for not just reaching every student — but advocating for every student and their families. Everything she does is fueled by the mission of building a strong community.  A community for her staff to feel supported in collaboration and their expertise; a community for students to feel seen, heard, and gain opportunities for them to succeed; a community for families to feel like Lincoln Elementary is their second home.  All of it is community. At the close of the school year, Mrs. McDonald joined our podcast to share her philosophy of public education, and give an inside glimpse into what makes Lincoln Elementary special and how she and her staff view each school day as an opportunity to make an impact.-- GUEST:Breanna McDonald - Lincoln Elementary Principal HOST:Mitchell Roush - GIPS Communications Director--FB: facebook.com/GrandIslandPublicSchoolshttps://www.gips.org/ 

There’s power in the written and the spoken word. That’s certainly the message our current state poet, Jewel Rodgers, is taking with her to call corners of Nebraska. For those that don’t know, Jewel Rodgers is a creative force.  She fills a room with laughter, with dynamic spoken word gravitas, and spend 10 minutes with her and you’ll know beyond a doubt that she is driven by not only sharing her creative work but championing the power of voice in others. Jewel served as the Nebraska State Poet since 2025 and is the first African American to hold the role.  She has been a spoken word poet for more than a decade, performing in schools, festivals, community settings, conferences, public events, and other venues.Recently, Jewel visited Grand Island Senior High to lead a student writers workshop and host a Poetry Reading & Open Mic Night event. GISH Senior Tessa Bockoven sat down with Jewel, on the mic, to dish on poetry, the creative process, the effects of A.I., and so, so much more.  Their conversation is an authentic journey of two creatives — one in high school venturing soon to college; and the other a statewide ambassador for all things poetry.Jewel even performs one of her favorite personal pieces. -- GUESTS: Jewel Rodgers - Nebraska State PoetTessa Bockoven - GISH Senior HOST:Mitchell Roush - GIPS Communications Director--FB: facebook.com/GrandIslandPublicSchoolshttps://www.gips.org/