LEAP Into Wellness Podcast Network

Matt Wolcott: Teaching, Coaching, and Family Life in La Grande

Matt Wolcott on Teaching, Coaching, and Finishing the School Year Strong in La Grande Brett Smith and Scott Carpenter host the Turning Point Podcast with guest Matt Wolcott, a 26-year La Grande School District educator who currently teaches high school physical education and health. Wolcott discusses additional work including teaching an officiating course to recruit young officials and helping launch the district’s driver’s education program after the regional program ended, ensuring compliance with ODOT. He outlines his coaching history as a head coach in wrestling, football, and track (now in his sixth year), and talks about the challenges of balancing teaching, coaching, and family life with four children, including coaching his own kids. The conversation highlights the busy spring schedule of field trips, testing, graduation, and state events, the flexibility required to support heavily involved students, and how students’ growth and resilience keep Wolcott motivated. 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:25 End of Year School Rush 01:27 Meet Matt Wolcott 02:04 Teaching Roles and New Courses 02:58 Drivers Ed Program Story 04:03 Coaching Journey Across Sports 05:08 Balancing Coaching and Family 09:09 Coaching Your Own Kids 11:08 Springtime at the High School 16:13 Why Teaching Still Matters 18:36 Finish Strong Closing Thoughts

Springtime in the Front Office: A School Secretary’s Role at Island City

Springtime in the Front Office: A School Secretary’s Role at Island City On a Friday morning Turning Point Podcast episode, the hosts talk with Island City head secretary Ms. Perry (with Mr. Carpenter) about her path from office administration work to stay-at-home parenting, then returning to school as a para and eventually becoming head secretary. They discuss the springtime rush in a school office, including field trips, awards, state testing, kindergarten roundup, year-end rollovers, Q files, and ordering supplies, while also planning the next school year. Mr. Carpenter describes how administrators and office staff manage overlapping school years, budgeting, staffing, negotiations, and district cuts. Ms. Perry explains the pressure of arranging substitutes, the learning curve of the role, confidentiality, supporting students and families in tough circumstances, and the importance of strong principal–secretary teamwork. They close by recognizing head secretaries across the district. 00:00 Podcast Welcome Banter 00:53 Diet Coke Ritual 01:37 Why Become Secretary 04:08 April Office Chaos 05:20 Two Years At Once 07:30 Sub Finder Pressure 09:04 Learning The Role 11:37 Confidential Heart Work 13:25 Admin Office Teamwork 16:54 Managing Stress Together 20:15 Shout Out Secretaries 21:24 Closing Thanks

From Overwhelm to Alignment: Navigating RTI & PLCs for Effective Teaching

Turning Point Podcast: Clarifying Essential Standards and Strengthening Tier 1 Instruction Through PLC and RTI Work Host Brett Smith and assistant superintendent Scott Carpenter of the La Grande School District are joined by fourth-grade teacher Justin and visiting Solution Tree facilitator Eric from Arizona to reflect on district training focused on RTI, PLCs, and strengthening Tier 1 instruction. Scott explains the district’s shift from feeling overwhelmed by intervening on everything to prioritizing essential standards and realigning Tier 2 supports after attending an Idaho Falls RTI conference and bringing Eric to train staff. Justin shares his transition from 12 years in kindergarten to fourth grade and highlights key takeaways on learning targets and instructional clarity. Eric emphasizes “clarity precedes competence/confidence,” prevention as best intervention, and teams as the fundamental structure of the work, noting positive cultural and academic impacts. The group discusses assessment design, reducing stress around testing and finals, and the importance of vertical alignment of essential standards across grades. 00:00 Welcome and Guests 00:37 How Training Began 01:37 Justin Teaching Journey 02:55 Eric Solution Tree Story 05:09 Key Takeaways Clarity 06:57 Buy In and Testing Stress 08:39 Prevention and Teams 10:16 Districtwide PLC Teamwork 13:23 Hope for Education 14:29 Next Steps Island City 16:06 Thanks and Wrap Up

Weightlifting Across the Lifespan: Form, Progression, and Practical Tips for Teachers

In this episode of FIT to Teach, host Kyle Pfaffenbach (associate professor at Eastern Oregon University and director of the EOU Lab for Exercise Assessment and Performance) and LEAP intern Cole Jorgensen welcome guest Dr. Alysia Cohen (EOU health and human performance faculty member, certified athletic trainer, Olympic lifting coach, and strength and conditioning certified) to discuss resistance training across the lifespan. Cohen shares her career path through athletic training, teaching, burnout, research, and returning to EOU, with work spanning high schools, colleges, and professional sports (including rodeo). The conversation emphasizes that while training should be individualized, foundational movement principles remain similar from youth to older adults, with key distinctions around developmental milestones versus sport-performance expectations, the risks of early sport specialization, and the value of multi-sport exposure and unstructured play. Cohen highlights non-negotiables for lifting—technique and form—and explains how progression, consistency, and appropriate intensity differ by training status and age, including the importance of heavy lifting for older adults (especially women around menopause) while stressing gradual progression. They discuss practical barriers for teachers (time, resources, limited access to trainers) and strategies to improve technique independently, such as using mirrors, recording movement, and video feedback/online coaching, while noting that general fitness apps can help people move but may not deliver true strength-training overload at higher fitness levels. Cole asks about strength vs. power training (including percent 1RM concepts) and youth safety, with Cohen recommending low-load technique work pre-maturation and more intensive strength/power training post-maturation, guided by maturation rather than age. Cohen’s closing advice is to find personal meaning and enjoyment in strength training, explore resources and coaches to find a good fit, and build long-term autonomy as one’s own trainer. 00:00 Welcome to FIT to Teach + Meet the Hosts 01:01 Introducing Dr. Alysia Cohen: Why Strength Training Matters 02:45 Alysia’s Career Journey: Athletic Training to PhD & Teaching 04:53 Credentials, Coaching, and the Value of Being a Generalist 07:42 Movement Across the Lifespan: Same Basics, Individualized Progressions 10:31 Youth Sports: Milestones vs. Skill, and Why Multi-Sport Helps 13:31 Variety vs. Consistency: Building a Sustainable Exercise Routine 16:54 Repetition for Learning: How Training Changes for Youth, Athletes, and Older Adults 21:51 Rest, Play, and Recovery: Lessons for Kids and Adults 22:57 Programming for Older Adults: Start Small, Progress Smart, Train vs. Just Be Active 26:24 Getting Buy-In: Start With Movement That Feels Good 27:01 Physical Activity vs. Training: Matching Intensity to Goals 27:52 Resistance Training Across the Lifespan: The Non‑Negotiables 29:02 DIY Form Checks: Mirrors, Cues, and Video Feedback 33:01 When Technique ‘Clicks’: Building Self-Coaching Athletes 37:25 Accessible Strength Options: Apps, Classes, and the Limits of Light Weights 41:28 When Heavy Lifting Matters: Strength, Bone, and Aging (Especially Menopause) 45:45 Strength vs. Power Training for Older Adults (What’s the Difference?) 47:25 Youth Resistance Training Safety: Maturation, Loads, and Progression 50:42 Final Takeaways: Find Meaning, Enjoy the Process, and Choose the Right Coach

Turning Point Podcast: Valentine’s Day Special: Educator Families, Community, and Life Behind the Scenes

On a Valentine’s Day special of the Turning Point Podcast, Mr. Carpenter and Mr. Smith are joined by their wives, Julie Carpenter and Kirsten Smith, to discuss what it’s like to build a family life around careers in education. Julie shares how she once said she’d never marry an educator, then reflects on Scott’s progression from teaching to administration, the growing pains of each role, and how school events, student activities, and athletics became family time. She describes teaching piano lessons, accompanying choir, and how their daughters Megan and Kaylee felt at home in the school community, gaining confidence and considering careers in education after seeing both the challenges and the positives. Kirsten talks about always expecting to marry an educator, their experience in Texas where Brett coached and served as an assistant principal focused on discipline at a large high-poverty high school, and how being welcomed at school activities created a second family for their kids. She emphasizes that seeing the individuals behind education—along with their time, energy, and care—has increased her trust and comfort as a parent. The couples discuss coping with stressful workdays (decompressing after work, going for drives, and shifting from “principal mode” to “dad mode”), the differences between commuting time in Texas versus living close to work in La Grande, and what they appreciate about small-town life, including relationships, community support, and opportunities for kids to participate in multiple extracurriculars. The episode ends with expressions of gratitude for their spouses’ support and a closing message to the community about recognizing educators as people with families, and how community care helps retain and attract school staff. 00:00 Welcome to the Turning Point Podcast (Valentine’s Day Special setup) 00:15 Meet the guests: Scott & Brett introduce their wives 01:35 Julie Carpenter’s ‘never say never’ + life through teaching & admin roles 03:12 Kirsten Smith’s background + favorite seasons of the educator life 04:41 How education shaped family life: kids, events, and a ‘safe space’ at school 08:44 Behind-the-scenes perspective: trusting educators & why it matters 10:50 Decompressing after hard days: stories at dinner, drives, and switching modes 14:28 Why La Grande feels like home: small-town community, relationships, and opportunities 18:33 Marriage shout-outs: gratitude for supportive partners in the educator journey 23:05 Closing message to the community: honoring educator families + sign-off