The Become Here Project

28. That's News to Me Crew

This special episode features award-winning Hiatt Middle School student podcasters of the That's News to Me Crew. Having won the District-wide Middle School Podcast Competition, teacher Tonya Richards and students Kenya De La Cruz Jimenez, Chemya McGee, and Jose Calderon Galvan speak with host Amanda Lewis about their experience producing a podcast. Learn more about ⁠Reimagining Education here⁠ [https://reimagine.dmschools.org/]. Come Here. Become Here. Follow DMPS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/desmoinespublicschools/], ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Flickr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.flickr.com/photos/dmps], ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/DMschools], ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/dmpstv]. Hosted by Amanda Lewis Produced by Kyle Knicley, DMPS-TV

27. 2026 DMPS State of the Schools

Welcome to The Become Here Project: A Des Moines Public Schools podcast. This episode is live in front of a studio audience at the Central Campus auditorium for the 2026 State of the Schools event. Amanda Lewis' student co-host is Irene Alobo of North High School and Central Campus. Guests joining the Reimagining Education discussion are: Des Moines Mayor Connie Boesen, DMPS Interim Superintendent Matt Smith, Reimagining Education Project Manager Dr. Bekah Harris, and By Degrees CEO Emily Westergaard. Learn more about Reimagining Education here [https://reimagine.dmschools.org/]. Come Here. Become Here. Follow DMPS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/desmoinespublicschools/], ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Flickr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.flickr.com/photos/dmps], ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/DMschools], ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/dmpstv]. Hosted by Amanda Lewis Produced by Kyle Knicley, DMPS-TV

26. Community Partnerships 101

In the spirit of the proverb "It takes a village to raise a child," we discuss the importance of community partnerships in meeting the needs of students and families. Kayli Becker, DMPS Chief of Staff, and Jo Christine Miles, Head of Principal Foundation and Principal Community Relations, speak with Amanda Lewis of the flagship literacy partnership between Principal Financial Group and Garton Elementary School. Click here [https://www.dmschools.org/community-engagement/] to learn more about volunteer opportunities [https://www.dmschools.org/community-engagement/volunteer/] and how to become a community partner [https://www.dmschools.org/community-engagement/]. Come Here. Become Here. Follow DMPS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/desmoinespublicschools/], ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Flickr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.flickr.com/photos/dmps], ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/DMschools], ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/dmpstv]. Hosted by Amanda Lewis Produced by Kyle Knicley, DMPS-TV

25. Career & Technical Education

Central Campus is the flagship of Career & Technical Education offerings in the state, and expanding equitable CTE opportunities throughout DMPS is a pillar of the Reimagining Education plan. In this episode, we speak with Kelsie Mouchka, Interim Director of Central Campus, and Tasha Brown, Districtwide Director of Career & Technical Education and Post-secondary Readiness. Don't miss the Central Campus Expo 2025 on Thursday, October 16, from 3:30–7:00 PM. ✨ What to Expect:  Live Aquarium Feedings 🐠 led by our Marine Science students  Culinary Tastings 🍴 prepared by our Culinary Arts program  Flying the Simulator ✈️ with our Aviation program  Hands-on demonstrations, interactive displays, student leaders ready to share their learning - and a prize wheel!  This year will also feature the grand opening of the Central Campus School Store, where students will showcase and sell products they’ve created.  The Expo is a way to explore career pathways and connect with Central Campus teachers and students. Learn more about Central Campus [https://centralcampus.dmschools.org/], Career & Technical Education [https://www.dmschools.org/academics/curriculum/career-technology-education/], and ⁠Reimagining Education [https://reimagine.dmschools.org/]. Come Here. Become Here. Follow DMPS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/desmoinespublicschools/], ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Flickr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.flickr.com/photos/dmps], ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/DMschools], ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/dmpstv]. Hosted by Amanda Lewis Produced by Kyle Knicley, DMPS-TV

24. What is New for the 2025-26 DMPS School Year

We're covering the most important things to know heading into the 2025-2026 school year. Our list includes exciting changes for every grade level and for families connecting with schools. Our guests include school and district leaders with the information you need to be "in the know." Learn more at dmschools.org [https://www.dmschools.org/]. Come Here. Become Here. Follow DMPS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/desmoinespublicschools/], ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Flickr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.flickr.com/photos/dmps], ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/DMschools], ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/dmpstv]. Hosted by Amanda Lewis Produced by Kyle Knicley, DMPS-TV