In this special holiday episode of the West Ada School District podcast, we head to Rocky Mountain High School🎓 to spotlight the choir program—and the people who make it truly special. We’re joined by choir director Brandi Cook and student Patrick D. 🎤 for a thoughtful conversation about music education, arts education, student leadership, and mentorship.

This is one episode you’ll definitely want to watch on YouTube▶️. After the conversation, the Rocky Mountain Jazz Choir performs a festive holiday choir performance 🎄✨ you won’t want to miss. If you’d like to jump straight to the performance, head to 21:16 ⏱️.

Whether you’re a student, educator, parent, or arts advocate, this episode offers an inside look at high school choir, West Ada schools, and how the arts help students build confidence, collaboration, and community—on stage and beyond.

🎧 Listen (and watch) now to discover what makes Rocky’s choir program sing.

#WeAreWestAda #RockyMountainHighSchool #ChoirLife #MusicEducation #ArtsEducation #JazzChoir #StudentVoices

In this episode of the West Ada School District Podcast, we go behind the scenes of the West Ada Education Foundation (WAEF) — the nonprofit driving classroom innovation and student support across Idaho’s largest school district.

Our guests, Jamie Burton, Executive Director, and Lila Lake, Grant Coordinator, share how the Foundation connects community generosity with real classroom needs. Together, they explore how WAEF funds creativity, removes barriers to learning, and builds partnerships that empower teachers and help every student thrive.

💡 Hear inspiring stories of Classroom Innovation Grants, teacher creativity, and student success — plus how WAEF collaborates with district leaders, educators, and local businesses to ensure every learner in West Ada has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

🎥 Want to see the Foundation’s impact in action? Watch this moving testimonial video highlighting how community support transforms student's lives: https://youtu.be/QZuiMaiPbNY

📬 Contacts: For grants, partnerships, or other inquiries, reach Jamie Burton at Burton.Jamie@westada.org
and Lila Lake at grants@westada.org

🎧 Tune in to learn how you can get involved, support classroom excellence, and make a lasting impact for West Ada students.

If you’re a parent, student, or teacher, you might not know the people who make our schools such great places to learn. In this episode of the West Ada Podcast, we’re spotlighting the dedicated teams who keep our schools safe, clean, and running every day — the Facilities and Custodial Services departments of the West Ada School District.

Spencer Mclean, Director of Facilities, and Tawnya Hulbert, Custodial Supervisor, share how they manage building maintenance, custodial operations, and emergency response across 382 square miles of the district — serving more than 38,000 students.

They discuss major modernization projects, energy-efficiency upgrades, and sustainability efforts that make our schools healthier, safer, and better places to learn. From HVAC and lighting improvements to innovative cleaning tools and custodial training, Spencer and Tawnya explain how their work directly supports student success.

Finally, they reflect on West Ada’s continued growth and new construction, how they prepare teams for new campuses, and their shared vision for the future of facilities in education.

🎥 Take a look behind the scenes of the Lake Hazel Middle School renovation → Watch on YouTube

📚 Learn more about our Schools of Choice programs and how to enroll → westada.org/enrollment-schools-of-choice

#WeAreWestAda #FacilitiesManagement #CustodialServices #SafeSchools #SustainableSchools #InnovationInEducation #K12Education