The Conversation

Honoring Their Legacy: Stories from the National Veterans Memorial and Museum

For Memorial Day, Rachel and John sat down with Mason Farr, Education and Outreach Manager at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum, for a conversation about honoring the stories and sacrifices of those who have served. Together, they explore how the museum takes visitors on a powerful narrative journey through the individual experiences and collective history of Veterans across generations. Tune in to learn how storytelling preserves legacy, strengthens understanding, and how you can get involved in supporting and honoring our nation’s Veterans. Mason Farr serves as Education & Outreach Manager at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum (NVMM) in Columbus, Ohio where he creates and executes engaging, immersive programs that bring Veteran stories to life for students, educators, and lifelong learners. With an M.A. in Applied History from George Mason University and a professional background spanning civic education, museum leadership, historical research, and military history, he brings deep expertise in curriculum development, exhibit interpretation, and community partnership building. At the NVMM, he leads standards-aligned programming, expands school and nonprofit partnerships, and elevates Veteran voices through interactive workshops, storytelling initiatives, and experiential learning opportunities. Links to Learn More https://nationalvmm.org/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23490200854&gbraid=0AAAAACydWfKQ0lBzE2VHAatN07jBEXUoU&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2ef-t7K7kwMViLIDAB0AHjiOEAAYASAAEgJdhvD_BwE [https://nationalvmm.org/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23490200854&gbraid=0AAAAACydWfKQ0lBzE2VHAatN07jBEXUoU&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2ef-t7K7kwMViLIDAB0AHjiOEAAYASAAEgJdhvD_BwE] Interested in learning about how you can share your story of service, or that of a loved one's? Check out the NVMM Story Collection here: https://nationalvmm.org/education/nvmm-story-collection/ [https://nationalvmm.org/education/nvmm-story-collection/]

Pathways of Joy

On this episode of The Conversation, Bethany Bell, Career and Community Resource Coordinator at Columbus City Schools, reflects on how her unique career journey has shaped her perspective and brought a deeper sense of joy and gratitude to the work she does each day. She also shares how she channels that passion into helping students explore possibilities and take meaningful steps toward their own career paths. Welcome to Season 3 of The Conversation! This season we’re exploring how educators can rediscover joy, cultivate hope, and reconnect with the educational journey. Join us for a season filled with inspiring stories and meaningful insights that celebrate the power of education. Bethany Bell is in her 21st year of teaching at Columbus City Schools. She has previously served as a high school English teacher and as a mentor for newly hired educators in the Peer Assistance and Review program. As the Career and Community Resource Coordinator at Northland High School, Ms. Bell supports students' career and technical skill attainment and career-focused graduation requirements through the development and expansion of CTE pathways.

Reflections from the Smithsonian National Education Summit

On this episode of The Conversation, hosts John and Rachel chat with Marnie Hallet Szymanski, a history teacher at Margaretta High School who attended the 2025 Smithsonian National Education Summit. She’ll share the insights she gained from the conference and how those strategies are transforming learning for her students. Welcome to Season 3 of The Conversation! This season we’re exploring how educators can rediscover joy, cultivate hope, and reconnect with the educational journey. Join us for a season filled with inspiring stories and meaningful insights that celebrate the power of education. Marnie Hallet Szymanski is a teacher at Margaretta High School. This is her 27th year in the classroom. She currently teaches 8th grade history, psychology, sociology and AP psychology. She is constantly striving to find creative and fun ways to teach her students. In addition to being a classroom teacher she is also the RE Program Coordinator, social studies department head, 8th grade Washington, D.C, trip advisor, student government advisor, senior class advisor, varsity cross country coach, varsity swim coach and JH track coach. Contact the Guest: mhallettszymanski@margarettaschooldistrict.com [mhallettszymanski@margarettaschooldistrict.com]   Links:  Smithsonian Newsletter Sign Up: https://si.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=ef149f26b899566ccc91c2354&id=78ccd8b27a [https://si.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=ef149f26b899566ccc91c2354&id=78ccd8b27a] The Smithsonian Educator Resources: https://www.si.edu/educators [https://www.si.edu/educators] Music:  Aaron Boylan, Marysville Early College High School Student

More Than a Dance: The Campus-Based Transition Prom

Spring is right around the corner which means prom season is about to commence! On this episode of The Conversation, John and Rachel sit down with ESC Intervention Specialists, Kathy Meterko and Rachel Junge to talk about the ESC’s Campus-Based Transition Program and their main event—prom! They'll dive into the planning and logistics behind the event, this year’s theme, and why their prom is such a meaningful and hope-filled experience for CBT students, families, and educators alike. Let’s dive in! This season we’re exploring how educators can rediscover joy, cultivate hope, and reconnect with the educational journey. Join us for a season filled with inspiring stories and meaningful insights that celebrate the power of education.   Our Guests   Rachel Junge is an Intervention Specialist in the CBT program. She has taught at WINGS for 19 years. Her favorite part of prom is seeing the prom develop from sketches on paper to the finished product and spending the evening with current and former students at the dance.    Kathy Meterko is an Intervention Specialist and is in her 19th year of the CBT program. She and Rachel taught together at WINGS for 11 of those years and now she leads the Step class at OSU. Her favorite part of prom is the week of prom because she likes seeing all of the decorations come together, feeling the excitement build, and then enjoying the night with her current and former students. Contact the Guests rachel.junge@escco.org [rachel.junge@escco.org]  kathleen.meterko@escco.org [kathleen.meterko@escco.org]

No Grades, New Mindset

On this episode of The Conversation, hosts John and Rachel sit down with Olentangy Local Schools English teachers Andrea Vescelius and Hannah Rust to explore how their practice of not grading reshaped mindsets and renewed hope for both students and educators. Welcome to Season 3 of The Conversation! This season we’re exploring how educators can rediscover joy, cultivate hope, and reconnect with the educational journey. Join us for a season filled with inspiring stories and meaningful insights that celebrate the power of education. Contact the Guests: Andrea_Vescelius@olsd.us [Andrea_Vescelius@olsd.us] Hannah_Rust@olsd.us [Hannah_rust@olsd.us]