Affton Unplugged

91. Voices of Affton: Inside the Choir Program

In this episode of the Affton Unplugged podcast Superintendent Travis Bracht highlights the Choir Program. You will hear from longtime choir director Mr. Dale Fearnley and four students from Affton High School—Liam McCart, David McKenzie, Louisa Sullivan, and Ruby Kuhlman.
Mr. Fearnley shares his extensive background in teaching and his connection to the district as an alumnus, emphasizing the program’s family-like environment and eclectic music selection. The students discuss their reasons for joining the choir, what they enjoy most about the experience, and the behind-the-scenes work involved in preparing for performances. The group concludes by sharing favorite memories and highlighting upcoming events, such as the December 8th concert.
 

90. Strings & Stories: Affton's Orchestra Program

In this episode of the Affton Unplugged podcast Superintendent Travis Bracht highlights the Affton Orchestra Program. This episode features the Orchestra Teacher, Mrs. Heithaus, and two student participants, Erma Muminovic and Spencer Slavik, who discuss their involvement and passion for music.
They highlight the program's offerings for grades six through twelve, detail their upcoming Halloween-themed concert on October 17th at 7:00 PM in the Rogers Middle School Cafeteria. They also share stories about preparation, competitions, and the sense of community within the orchestra. The participants also touch upon the growth of the program and their goals for future collaborations and performances.

89. Affton Band: Building Community One Note at a Time

In this episode of the "Affton Unplugged" podcast Superintendent Travis Bracht highlights the Affton Band Program. Featured guests include the Band Director Mr. Curtis Schroyer and three students—Abbi Singer, Denis Gralike, and James McCann—who share their experiences and passion for music.
Discussion points include the sense of community and camaraderie within the band, the dedication required for rehearsals and performances, and future aspirations of the students, concluding with information about upcoming concert dates for the community.
The Affton Band Program is an example of how students can foster community, musical growth, and service through concert band, marching/pep band, and solo/ensemble opportunities. The episode also highlights student stories, the teacher’s journey, behind-the-scenes rehearsal work, notable memories like a first-place trip to Louisville, and upcoming free concerts on December 3, 2025 and April 22, 2026.

88. Game, Set, Match: Affton Girls Tennis In Action

On this episode of the Affton Unplugged podcast Superintendent Travis Bracht highlights the Affton High School girls tennis team. The episode features the team's coach, Beth Daniels, a longtime Affton resident and former player, along with two senior players, Miranda Yeates and Emily Wilson.
The discussion covers the history of the tennis program, including its start in 1975, discontinuation in 1982, and Coach Daniels' role in restarting it in 2019. The players share their positive experiences with team camaraderie, the differences between singles and doubles play, and their recent success in tournaments. They also provide practical details about the sport, such as the use of Whitecliff Park as their home court and the unique nature of having players call their own lines during matches.

87. Filming Freedom: Affton Students Take On C-SPAN

In this episode of the Affton Unplugged podcast Superintendent Travis Bracht highlights an Advanced Placement (AP) U.S. Government and Politics class at Affton High School. Teacher Tony Muyco and several senior students discuss their participation in the C-SPAN documentary project, which celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Students worked individually or in teams to produce six-minute documentaries relating the ideals of the Declaration to either a historical event or a contemporary community issue, with topics ranging from local infrastructure issues like potholes to Bosnian immigration to St. Louis. The students share their challenges, such as scheduling group meetings, their favorite parts of the process, particularly conducting interviews, and what they learned about their respective topics.
Mr. Muyco notes that the project, which he has overseen since 2006, now benefits from students' proficiency with modern filming technology like cell phones. This episodes illustrates how students at Affton High School are being encouraged to use creative learning strategies. It also demonstrates how they are applying what they learn to issues that impact their local community.

86. Control+ALT+Achieve: Meet Affton's IT Team

This episode of the Affton Unplugged podcast features Superintendent Travis Bracht interviewing four IT professionals—Bill Wagner, Adam Jasinski, Rachel Watson, and Brandon Clark—from the Affton School District to celebrate National IT Professionals Day. The discussion highlights the diverse responsibilities of IT staff, extending beyond simple computer fixes to include network maintenance, security monitoring, and implementing new technologies.
They share memorable challenges, such as server crashes, ransomware attacks, and the complexities of the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside the enjoyment derived from supporting students and teachers and the variety inherent in their roles. The team also discusses the future of technology in education, emphasizing the impact of AI and the ongoing need for infrastructure upgrades, while stressing the importance of communication and patience from staff regarding IT requests.

85. Back to School, Back Together

In this episode of the Affton Unplugged podcast Superintendent Travis Bracht highlights what students and staff have enjoyed about the first few weeks of school. Teachers across various subjects and grade levels express enjoyment in reconnecting with students and colleagues, establishing routines, and introducing new topics. 
Students, ranging from elementary to high school, frequently mention the joy of seeing friends again, making new connections, engaging in sports and extracurricular activities like choir and theater, and appreciating their classes and teachers. Some students also enjoy challenges, specific subjects like math and science, and school favorites such as recess and maker space.
Overall, the voices of Affton's staff and students capture a positive sentiment regarding the start of the school year, emphasizing community, learning, and social interaction.

84. Future Healthcare Leaders: HOSA In Action

This episode of the Affton Unplugged podcast introduces HOSA, Health Occupation Students of America, a national organization that prepares high school students for medical careers. Superintendent Travis Bracht interviews science teacher and HOSA sponsor Lizzie Closser, alongside students Alexis Hancock, Lillian Edwards, and Miranda Yeates, all rising seniors involved in the club.
The discussion highlights the competitive aspect of HOSA, where students participate in events related to specific medical professions, with opportunities to advance from state to international competitions. The students emphasize the strong sense of community, mentorship, and life skills gained through HOSA, such as self-accountability and time management, while Ms. Closser notes the program's value in providing real-world connections and a competitive edge for future medical professionals.

83. Lights, Camera, Leadership: Meet Dr. Suggs

Welcome to Affton Unplugged with Superintendent Travis Bracht. In this episode, Dr. Cassandra Suggs joins the podcast to share her personal and professional journey — from a journalism and TV career (including interviews with Michael Jordan and working with Oprah) to becoming an educator and administrator.
Dr. Suggs talks about her family, her start in English language learning (ELL), her transition into school leadership, the warm community welcome she received at Affton, and what she’s looking forward to this school year. She also shares a memorable teaching moment that captures why she loves working with students.

82. Building Community with the Affton Parents Club

Welcome to the latest episode of Affton Unplugged, a podcast by the Affton School District that highlights the people and stories that make the district great. Join Superintendent Travis Bracht as he sits down with the Affton Parents Club (APC) President, Emily Grozdanic.
In this episode, Emily shares upcoming events and initiatives for the 2025-26 school year. Discover how this dynamic group supports social interaction, promotes family engagement, and cultivates student success.
From the Back to School Bash (Sunday, September 24th, 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Mesnier Primary School) to a new event called Meet Me at the Pitch (Wednesday, September 10th, in the evening at Affton High School), learn about the exciting activities that bring the Affton community together. Get insights into how you can get involved, whether as a volunteer or participant.
Tune in to find out why the Affton Parents Club is a vital part of making the Affton School District a wonderful place for students, parents, and the entire community. Don't miss this engaging and informative episode!