Huskie Pack Podcast

hemlockhuskies

This podcast is from Hemlock Public School District.

  1. Jul 16

    Building a Stage for the Future | A Conversation with Danyelle Hillman

    The curtain is about to rise on one of the most exciting chapters in Hemlock Public School District history. In this episode, Superintendent Don Killingbeck sits down with Danyelle Hillman, the district's first-ever Director of the new Performing Arts Center, to talk about leadership, music, theater, education, and the vision behind a facility designed to inspire students and serve the community for generations to come. Hillman brings more than 15 years of experience in music education, theater, youth programming, and community arts leadership to her new role, while also joining Hemlock High School as a choir teacher.  Together, they discuss Danyelle's journey to Hemlock, what drew her to the opportunity, and how the soon-to-open Performing Arts Center will become far more than a performance venue. It will be a place where students discover confidence, creativity, belonging, and their own unique voice. The conversation also explores the role of the arts in education, the importance of building community through performance, and the excitement surrounding one of the final pieces of Hemlock's Campus of Opportunity transformation. Whether you're a student, parent, arts enthusiast, or simply curious about what's next for Hemlock, this conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at the people and purpose shaping the future of the Performing Arts Center. Small Town. Big Opportunities. The stage is set.

  2. Mar 14

    Nobody Likes Taxes, Everyone Loves our Schools

    Nobody likes taxes. It is one of the few things almost everyone can agree on. But behind every school bus route, classroom teacher, athletic field, robotics team, and learning opportunity is a funding system that many people rarely see or fully understand. In this episode of the Huskie Pack Podcast, Don pulls back the curtain on how school funding actually works and why conversations about taxes, funding, and community investment matter for students. The discussion explores the reality that while taxes are often unpopular, they are also the mechanism communities use to build strong schools, maintain facilities, support teachers, and create opportunities for kids. Listeners will hear about how public school funding flows, where local dollars go, and how districts work to stretch every resource as far as possible for students and families. The episode also explores the responsibility school leaders carry when asking communities to invest in their schools and why transparency and trust are essential in that process. At the center of the conversation is a simple idea. Strong schools do not happen by accident. They happen when communities choose to invest in their kids, their classrooms, and their future. If you have ever wondered how school funding really works or why communities sometimes have difficult conversations about taxes, this episode offers a clear and honest look behind the scenes of public education. Because at the end of the day, while nobody likes taxes, everyone likes great schools.

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This podcast is from Hemlock Public School District.