Affton Unplugged

13. Gotsch Young Writers Club

In this episode you will learn about the Young Writers Club at Gotsch Intermediate School where students in grades 3-5 create stories that culminate in being published authors. You will hear from Darby, Joe, and Maya as they talk about the stories they created last school year when they were in 5th grade. You will also get to meet Fifth Grade Teacher Jenn Molsbee and Administrative Assistant Nikki Becker who serve as the club sponsors.

12. Lessons from the Classroom

In this episode you will get to hear from the current Affton School District Teacher of the Year, Karen Karsten. She provides some wise lessons from the classroom that reinforce how the small interactions teachers have with students on a daily basis can truly transform their future. Karen is a reading specialist with Special School District of St. Louis County and works as a special education teacher at Rogers Middle School.  

11. #Afftonstrong - Athletics & Activities

In this episode we highlight the benefits of students getting involved with athletics and activities that help make the District #Afftonstrong. We discuss the important role that parents, teachers, coaches and sponsors play in making extracurricular activities a positive experience for everyone involved. You will also get a chance to hear from Affton High School Activities Director Alex Huck.

10. Student Voice: Advice for Teachers

In this episode we highlight how the Affton School District amplifies student voice. You will hear from Affton High School students who get input from their peers on ways to improve the climate and culture of the school and then work with staff members to make a noticeable difference. You won't want to miss their advice on how to build trust with students, show students that you care and create a positive classroom environment. In addition to hearing from AHS students you will also meet Mr. Brian Jennings, AHS English-language Arts Teacher, and Mrs. Loren Widmer, Director of Student Services.

9. Future Ready

In this episode we highlight some of the opportunities the district offers to support our students being ready for their future. From college visits and application assistance to alumni panels and career fairs to college credit and industry recognized credentials, there is something for everyone. Hear from Dr. Jason Buck, Director of College & Career Readiness, and Mary Giunta, College & Career Counselor, as they share the great things going on across the district to support our students and families.

8. Amplifying the Affton Story

In this episode we talk about amplifying the Affton story through communication. You will hear from the Affton School District Director of Communications Erica Chandler, APR. Erica will discuss how people can connect through small moments that happen inside and outside the classroom that show who we are. She also provides examples of how people can stay connected to what’s going on in the District through social media, digital, and print publications.

7. First Week of School

In this episode students across the Affton School District will tell you what they enjoyed about the first week of school. The first segment includes a conversation with three Seniors at Affton High School who were featured on the front page of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch as they enjoyed the Class of 2024 Senior Sunrise on the morning of the first day of school. The following segments feature 8th graders from Rogers Middle School, 5th graders from Gotsch Intermediate School, 2nd graders from Mesnier Primary School, and pre-kindergarten students at the early childhood center.

6. The Baseball

In this episode you will get to meet Mr. Dan McCarthy, teacher at Rogers Middle School, and Carl Wagers, student at Affton High School. They will recount the details of their story that has been shared over 200,000 times on social media and you won't want to miss hearing about it. It is a great example of student-teacher relationships that occur within the Affton School District.

5. Affton Parents Club

In this episode we highlight the Affton Parents Club (APC) and welcome the APC President Emily Grozdanic who is an Affton graduate with 3 children in the district. APC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and functions as the Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) for the district. APC is dedicated to A - advocating for teachers, staff, and families, P - promoting community engagement and C - cultivating student growth.

4. Dare to Lead with Justine Froelker

The Affton School District was honored to host Justine Froelker as the keynote speaker for their opening week staff assembly and professional development day. In this episode Justine will highlight what she shared with the Affton staff based on the research of Dr. Brené Brown. Justine is a Licensed Professional Counselor with more than 20 years of experience in traditional mental health and personal and professional development. She travels nationally and presents virtually to global audiences delivering keynotes, workshops, retreats, and trainings on topics such as leadership, courage, resilience, mental health, preventing and coping with burnout, and courageous and curious conversation, especially in creating cultures of belonging and diversity, equity, and inclusion.