West Side Stories Episode 4: My Guest Segment with Taylor Julian and Missy Brewer

Some invitations mean more because of who extends them, when they arrive, and what they represent. During my last year working in the Jenks Public School District, I had the joy of being invited by Teaching and Learning Specialist Taylor Julian and Literacy Coach Missy Brewer from West Elementary to join episode 4 of their podcast, West Side Stories.

My guest segment begins at 20:18, and I am grateful for the chance to be part of a conversation rooted in learning, school community, and the work that educators do every day to support students. Thank you, Taylor and Missy, for the invitation and for creating a space where school stories can be shared with care.

A school podcast begins with stories worth sharing.

A meaningful invitation during my final year in Jenks

Being invited onto West Side Stories during my final year in Jenks Public Schools felt especially meaningful. The last year in a district carries a mix of emotions. There is gratitude for the work, reflection on the relationships, and awareness that the ordinary moments become more precious. A hallway conversation, a classroom visit, a planning session, or a shared laugh with colleagues can feel different when you know that chapter is coming to a close.

Taylor Julian and Missy Brewer offered me a chance to pause and reflect on that experience in a way that felt warm and natural. Their podcast does what good school storytelling should do. It brings people closer to the work by letting them hear the voices behind it.

In schools, so much of the most important work happens quietly.

A teacher notices that a student needs a different approach to learning. A coach supports a team as they make sense of new data. A specialist helps connect curriculum goals to classroom practice. A principal protects time for teachers to learn together. A student tries again after something felt hard the day before.

Those stories are easy to miss if no one makes room for them.

That is why West Side Stories matters. A school podcast may sound simple, but it can become a record of shared purpose. It captures the people, practices, and values that shape a school community over time.

Learning does not happen in isolation. It happens through relationships, coaching, planning, reflection, and trust. It happens when teachers feel supported enough to take next steps. It happens when students are seen as individuals, not just as scores or groups.

It happens when a school makes time for people to learn from one another.