It's time to kick off the new school year with a special on-location edition of the West Ada Podcast!

We're coming to you from Independence Elementary, West Ada's newest school, as it prepares to welcome students for the very first time.

Superintendent Dr. Derek Bub joins us to discuss the exciting opening of West Ada's 60th school, along with several new initiatives designed to strengthen communication between our schools and families this year.

We also celebrate something that hasn't changed—West Ada's continued commitment to academic excellence. Once again, our students are leading the way in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science. Dr. Bub shares what these results mean and how our educators continue to build on that success. You can read more here.

Plus, for the first time ever, our Student Pulse segment features elementary students! Independence Principal Jeff Christopherson sits down with five future Ospreys to hear what they're most excited about as they prepare to open their brand-new school.

Interested in a specific topic? Jump to the chapters below:
2:20 Welcome Dr. Bub
2:35 The building of our 60th school- Independence Elementary
4:20 Addressing growth
7:50 Staying focused on fiscal responsibility
9:50 More CTE opportunities
14:00 Academic success
16:15 Celebrating dedicated teachers and staff
17:30 Academic focus for 2026-27
19:10 Beneficial new policies & procedures
22:00 Streamlining communication practices
23:45 Importance of student voice
25:00 Simplifying registration for Activities & Athletics
26:30 Sharing student praise
31:00 What excites us in West Ada
32:35 The Osprey Way!

📚 Get ready for the first day of school with our Back-to-School Guide

🎟️ Learn more about the West Ada Fall Fundraiser

This is a West Ada Podcast like you've never seen before!

Our mission is to prepare today's students for tomorrow's challenges—and this episode puts that mission on full display.

Welcome to our Intern Takeover! Two of our outstanding communications interns, Ashlyn and Ryan, step behind the microphones as co-hosts to share what it's really like to intern at West Ada.

From Information Technology and School Nutrition to Communications and beyond, you'll hear firsthand how students are gaining real-world experience, building professional skills, and exploring meaningful career paths—all while making a difference in our schools.

If you're a student interested in hands-on learning and career exploration, West Ada offers internship opportunities in a wide variety of fields.

To learn more, email us at communicate@westada.org.

Over four thousand West Ada graduates crossed the stage last month, ready to begin their next adventure. In this episode of the West Ada Podcast, we spotlight two exceptional graduates who also took the microphone as student speakers at their commencement ceremonies: Madison Kelly of Renaissance High School and James Campbell of Owyhee High School.

Madison and James share what it was like to represent their classmates, the challenges and rewards of delivering a graduation speech, and the teachers who helped shape their journeys. Their stories reflect the resilience, growth, and promise of the Class of 2026—and offer an inspiring look at what comes next.

🎓 Watch Madison's graduation speech: https://youtube.com/live/ckOpq6ZZsgI at 45:15
🎓 Watch James' graduation speech: https://youtube.com/live/SrJcgkUEK80 at 53:00

Join us for a conversation about leadership, gratitude, perseverance, and the educators who make a lasting impact on students' lives.