Student leadership in action is the highlight of this episode of Learning in Lake Oswego. Several of our high school students are members of the Oregon Youth Leadership Alliance (OYLA), a student-run organization dedicated to youth leadership and networking across Oregon. Recently, they helped organize and host the 2026 BIPOC Student Leadership Conference at Lakeridge High School, bringing together students, nonprofit leaders, and elected officials from across the Portland Metro area to focus on leadership, advocacy, networking, and belonging.

Tara Reddy and Layla Riquelme-Cheung are two of the student organizers behind the conference. They share what it takes to plan a regional, student-led event, why creating spaces for BIPOC students and welcoming allies matters, and how young leaders are building connections and shaping their communities.

Dr. Jennifer Schiele, Superintendent, LOSD

Mary Kay Larson, Executive Director of Communications, LOSD

Tara Reddy, Student, Lakeridge High School

Layla Riquelme-Cheung, Student, Lakeridge High School

To learn more about the topics we discussed, ask a question, or share ideas for future episodes, please visit LOSDSchools. org. And remember to like and follow us wherever you get your podcasts. Thank you for engaging with Learning in Lake Oswego. We appreciate your support and look forward to having you with us for our next episode.

Reading is foundational to everything we do in schools. Across Oregon and the nation, too many children are struggling to meet early literacy benchmarks. While our teachers and families are working incredibly hard to support young readers, literacy is not something schools can do alone. It takes time, consistency, partnership, and a shared belief that reading opens doors.

In this episode, we explore one powerful example of that partnership in action: the SMART Reading program.

Active in one of our elementary schools and serving children across Oregon for more than 30 years, SMART Reading connects trained volunteers with students to build confidence, skills, and, most importantly, the joy of reading.

Together, we discuss why early literacy matters now more than ever; how consistent one-on-one reading time makes a difference; the power of community volunteers in supporting student success; and what it looks like when a child discovers the joy of reading. This episode is a reminder that literacy is a shared responsibility, and when schools and community partners work together, students thrive.

Dr. Jennifer Schiele, Superintendent, LOSD

Mary Kay Larson, Executive Director of Communications, LOSD

Lisa Stephens, Instructional Specialist, River Grove Elementary School

Kevin Faris, SMART Reading Volunteer and Lake Oswego Resident

Lukas Gardner, Kindergartener, River Grove Elementary School

To learn more about the topics we discussed, ask a question, or share ideas for future episodes, please visit LOSDSchools. org. And remember to like and follow us wherever you get your podcasts. Thank you for engaging with Learning in Lake Oswego. We appreciate your support and look forward to having you with us for our next episode.

In this episode of Learning in Lake Oswego, we’re diving into speech and debate in middle school, one of the most powerful ways students build confidence, sharpen critical thinking, and learn how to communicate respectfully, even when perspectives differ.

Joining us are Jay Ashiknos, a teacher at Lakeridge Middle School, and Connor Rozgo, a seventh grader experiencing speech and debate firsthand. Together, they share what speech and debate looks like in middle school classrooms, why it resonates with students, and how it supports skills that extend far beyond the podium. Tune in to hear how students are learning to think deeply, speak confidently, and engage thoughtfully with the world around them.

Dr. Jennifer Schiele, Superintendent, LOSD

Mary Kay Larson, Executive Director of Communications, LOSD

Jay Ashkinos, Teacher, Lakeridge Middle School

Connor Rozgo, Student, Lakeridge Middle School

To learn more about the topics we discussed, ask a question, or share ideas for future episodes, please visit LOSDSchools. org. And remember to like and follow us wherever you get your podcasts. Thank you for engaging with Learning in Lake Oswego. We appreciate your support and look forward to having you with us for our next episode.

This episode pulls back the curtain on one of the most exciting and often confusing parts of the high school journey: the college athletic recruiting process. In this episode of Learning in Lake Oswego, Superintendent Jennifer Schiele leads a candid, practical conversation designed for student-athletes and families. With her perspective as both an educational leader and a parent who recently navigated recruiting firsthand, Dr. Schiele helps ground the discussion in what truly matters: growth, balance, and finding the right fit.

Joining her are two trusted voices who see recruiting from every angle: Steve Coury, head football coach at Lake Oswego High School, and Spencer Phillips, head coach at Lakeridge High School. Fierce competitors on the field and respected colleagues off it, both coaches share insights from their own college playing days and decades of experience guiding student-athletes through recruiting. Together, they address common misconceptions, shifting timelines, scholarship realities, the role of academics, and how social media and early specialization fit into today’s landscape.

Whether a student-athlete dreams of competing at the next level or is simply curious about what recruiting really looks like, this episode offers candid insights. Listeners will hear practical advice about what students can control, how families can support, and how to evaluate fit beyond athletics. While this episode talks about playing at the next level, the key takeaway is clear: make the most of your time in our schools.

Dr. Jennifer Schiele, Superintendent, LOSD

Mary Kay Larson, Executive Director of Communications, LOSD

Steve Coury, Head Coach, Football, Lake Oswego High School

Spencer Phillips, Head Coach, Football, Lakeridge High School

To learn more about the topics we discussed, ask a question, or share ideas for future episodes, please visit LOSDSchools. org. And remember to like and follow us wherever you get your podcasts. Thank you for engaging with Learning in Lake Oswego. We appreciate your support and look forward to having you with us for our next episode.

What happens when students are trusted to run a business that serves their entire school community? In this episode of Learning in Lake Oswego, we take you inside one of the most active hubs of learning and connection at Lakeridge High School: the student-run school store.

The store brings together students from across campus—including DECA, ASB, and the Pathways LifeSkills program—offering meaningful, real-world experience in customer service, money management, marketing, teamwork, and leadership. Even more importantly, it’s a place where students of all abilities work side by side, building confidence, relationships, and a strong sense of belonging.

To help tell this story, we’re joined by two remarkable student leaders: Margaret Fleming, a Lakeridge sophomore in the Pathways program, and Beatrice Madden, a Lakeridge senior and DECA president. Together, they exemplify the leadership, collaboration, and inclusive spirit that make the school store such a powerful learning space.

Dr. Jennifer Schiele, Superintendent, LOSD

Mary Kay Larson, Executive Director of Communications, LOSD

Margaret Fleming, Student, Lakeridge High School

Beatrice Madden, Student, Lakeridge High School

To learn more about the topics we discussed, ask a question, or share ideas for future episodes, please visit LOSDSchools. org. And remember to like and follow us wherever you get your podcasts. Thank you for engaging with Learning in Lake Oswego. We appreciate your support and look forward to having you with us for our next episode.

What happens when students see a need and step up to create change? In this inspiring episode of Learning in Lake Oswego, we spotlight a powerful new student-led initiative at Lake Oswego High School: Women in STEM. Alexis Zou, a Lake Oswego High School senior and the co-founder and president of Women in STEM, is joined by Susan Wentzien, LOHS biology teacher and the club’s advisor.

Together, they explore what inspired the launch of the Women in STEM club; the barriers and patterns girls and young women still face in STEM fields; why representation and mentorship matter; how student leadership builds confidence and belonging; and the role educators play in helping students see themselves in STEM careers. They also share their hopes for the club's future and the legacy it will leave behind.

Alexis reflects on her personal journey, the club’s mission, and offers advice for students who may feel uncertain about entering STEM spaces. Susan brings an educator’s perspective, grounding the conversation in research, classroom practice, and her own path into science and teaching.

Dr. Jennifer Schiele, Superintendent, LOSD

Mary Kay Larson, Executive Director of Communications, LOSD

Alexis Zoh, Student and co-founder of Women in STEM, Lake Oswego High School

Susan Wentzien, Teacher and Women in STEM Club Advisor, Lake Oswego High School

To learn more about the topics we discussed, ask a question, or share ideas for future episodes, please visit LOSDSchools. org. And remember to like and follow us wherever you get your podcasts. Thank you for engaging with Learning in Lake Oswego. We appreciate your support and look forward to having you with us for our next episode.

In this episode of Learning in Lake Oswego, we highlight one of LOSD’s most cherished volunteer programs: Art Literacy. Guests Kristin Saco, districtwide Art Lit Board member, and Macy Walkenhorst, a Lakeridge High freshman who participated in Art Lit from K–8, share how this program brings art, culture, and creativity into classrooms across the district. Tune in to learn how volunteers make Art Lit possible, why it leaves a lasting impact on students, and what makes this decades-strong program such a beloved part of the LOSD experience.

Dr. Jennifer Schiele, Superintendent, LOSD

Mary Kay Larson, Executive Director of Communications, LOSD

Kristin Saco, Parent Volunteer, Art Literacy Board

Macy Walkenhorst, Student, Lakeridge High School

LOSD Art Literacy Program

To learn more about the topics we discussed, ask a question, or share ideas for future episodes, please visit LOSDSchools. org. And remember to like and follow us wherever you get your podcasts. Thank you for engaging with Learning in Lake Oswego. We appreciate your support and look forward to having you with us for our next episode.

As the holiday season approaches, this episode celebrates the spirit of giving and service in our schools and community. We welcome guests from the Lake Oswego Rotary Club and Lake Oswego High School’s Interact Club, organizations that exemplify “Service Above Self.”

Meet Auveen Shafei, a student award recipient, and Sicily D’Orazio, student chair of the Interact Club, who share how service and leadership are shaping their lives and inspiring others. You’ll also hear from Brian Bice and Malcolm Mathes, co-chairs of Rotary’s Educational Excellence Awards, as they reflect on ten years of honoring students, educators, and community members who go above and beyond in education. Tune in for stories of generosity, mentorship, and community connection, a true reflection of what makes Lake Oswego shine.

Dr. Jennifer Schiele, Superintendent, LOSD

Mary Kay Larson, Executive Director of Communications, LOSD

Auveen Shafei, Student, Lake Oswego High School

Sicily D’Orazio, Student, Lake Oswego High School

Brian Bice, Educational Excellence Awards Co-Chair, Lake Oswego Rotary Club

Malcolm Mathes, Educational Excellence Awards Founder and Co-Chair, Lake Oswego Rotary Club

To learn more about the topics we discussed, ask a question, or share ideas for future episodes, please visit LOSDSchools. org. And remember to like and follow us wherever you get your podcasts. Thank you for engaging with Learning in Lake Oswego. We appreciate your support and look forward to having you with us for our next episode.