[00:00:02] **Announcer:**
It’s time to get in the loop with LPS, the official podcast of Liberty Public Schools. From the latest school and district news updates to opportunities to meet the people who help make LPS great, *In the Loop with LPS* provides another opportunity for us to stay connected with you.

[00:00:24] **Announcer:**
So let’s get started and send you to the longtime Director of Communications with Liberty Public Schools — and your host of *In the Loop with LPS* — Dallas Ackerman.

[00:00:35] **Dallas Ackerman:**
We welcome everyone back. This is year number two of *In the Loop with LPS*, the official podcast of Liberty Public Schools. I’m Dallas Ackerman, Director of Communications and Marketing, and no better person to kick off a new season than our superintendent of schools, **Dr. Jeremy Tucker**.
Jeremy, thank you for coming by — and good news, we haven’t been canceled yet!

[00:01:16] **Dr. Jeremy Tucker:**
Yeah! Dallas, thanks for all your work lining up guests and putting the series together. It was about a year ago that we were here trying to figure out what we were doing. We’ve come a long way.

[00:01:55] **Dr. Tucker:**
I love how the podcast helps us get to know our team on a professional and personal level — families, interests, hobbies. And I know you stay up late crafting those zinger questions to catch people off guard. I’m eager to see what you’ve got for me today.

[00:02:46] **Dallas Ackerman:**
We appreciate your time — especially in these busy first weeks of school. How has the 2024–2025 school year been so far?

[00:03:01] **Dr. Tucker:**
As soon as summer ends and a school year begins, the pace changes — like flipping a light switch. Families feel it, staff feel it, we all feel it. It’s been a great start overall. Of course, we navigate things like heat waves, construction traffic, and first-week adjustments. But we truly are blessed with phenomenal students, teachers, staff, administrators, parents, and board members.

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## **SUMMER & FAMILY UPDATES**

[00:03:45] **Dallas Ackerman:**
How was your summer? Did you get a chance to get away?

[00:03:45] **Dr. Tucker:**
Summers aren’t what they used to be. When I was a teacher, I could unplug. In administration, summer is busy — wrapping up one year, overseeing summer programs, preparing for the next year. But it is still a nice change of pace.

[00:04:29] **Dr. Tucker:**
We did get away to **Detroit**, of all places. I got puzzled looks when I said that, but we had a blast. My son had a national bowling tournament, and we explored the city as a family. We love visiting major metro areas together.

---

## **ON SENDING A DAUGHTER TO COLLEGE — YEAR TWO**

[00:05:03] **Dallas Ackerman:**
Last year you were transitioning your daughter Madison to college for the first time. How was round two?

[00:05:29] **Dr. Tucker:**
She had a great freshman year at Biola. This morning she and her mom left at 6 a.m. for the road trip to Los Angeles. She’ll start her sophomore year soon. She worked two summer internships, including Kansas City Common Good, and will continue one remotely from California. We’re super proud of her — and we’ll miss her.
As for whether it’s easier this year… I’ll know more when my wife returns on Monday!

[00:06:51] **Dr. Tucker:**
Advice for parents: **time flies**. People told me that for years, and they were right. It’s bittersweet — sad and joyful. You’re proud of them, but you feel the loss too. Keep tissues nearby.

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## **DISTRICT OPERATIONS & BACK-TO-SCHOOL**

[00:08:32] **Dallas Ackerman:**
What is it like preparing for the first day of school as superintendent?

[00:09:10] **Dr. Tucker:**
It depends on the size of the district. In LPS, we have phenomenal leaders overseeing finance, HR, operations, innovation, and more. I support the work, do a lot of planning, help set the tone at convocation, and communicate vision. Once those buses roll on day one, the focus is simple:
**take care of staff, take care of kids, support families.**

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## **TEN YEARS IN LPS**

[00:10:13] **Dallas Ackerman:**
You recently received your ten-year service award. Has it really been a decade?

[00:10:37] **Dr. Tucker:**
It’s crazy. The average superintendent tenure is 3–5 years, so I don’t know what that says about me! But it has flown by. What makes it special is our community. We’re not perfect, but the people and partnerships here are incredible.

[00:11:31] **Dr. Tucker:**
When I arrived in 2014, LPS felt huge compared to my previous district. Learning the Kansas City region, civic partnerships, and losing the ability to personally know everyone — those were big transitions. But raising our kids here has been a blessing.

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## **WHAT’S CHANGED MOST IN TEN YEARS**

[00:12:53] **Dr. Tucker:**
Education has evolved significantly — technology, artificial intelligence, real-world learning pathways, refreshed strategic planning, our Graduate Profile, and more. Yet when you walk into classrooms, you still see timeless practices that work. It’s a blend of continuity and transformation.

---

## **PROUDEST ACHIEVEMENT**

[00:14:26] **Dallas Ackerman:**
What is the biggest achievement of LPS in your ten years?

[00:14:57] **Dr. Tucker:**
Honestly, our **community cohesion during difficult times** — especially the pandemic. We communicated clearly, engaged stakeholders, and navigated uncertainty together. That built trust. It wasn’t about me; it was about collective strength.

---

## **CONSTRUCTION & BOND PROJECTS**

[00:17:21] **Dallas Ackerman:**
Construction is everywhere! Tell us about the 2023 bond progress.

[00:17:53] **Dr. Tucker:**
Our voters passed the $120 million bond with **82% approval** — an incredible show of support. Since then, projects have included:

* Athletic facility upgrades (tennis, baseball, softball)
* Secure entrance remodels at Ridgeview & Franklin
* Nurse office upgrades
* HVAC and LED lighting improvements
* New performing arts and gym spaces at EPiC, South Valley, and Discovery
* Major renovation work at Heritage Middle School
* A brand-new district **Distribution Center**
* And more to come over a 4–5-year timeline

The community made all this possible.

---

## **ENROLLMENT & DEMOGRAPHICS**

[00:24:03] **Dr. Tucker:**
Demographic studies show a slight **decline** in enrollment tied to **lower birth rates**.
We graduate about **1,000 seniors** yearly, but incoming kindergarten classes have been around **650–750**.
We monitor neighborhood cycles and development patterns closely — not every new home brings school-aged students.

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# **THREE RANDOM QUESTIONS**

### **1. Coffee with anyone — who and why?**

[00:28:27] **Dr. Tucker:**
Two answers:
**(1)** My former elementary teacher **Sherry Larsen** — hugely influential in my path to education.
**(2)** My high school coffee-shop friends — to reconnect and reminisce.

### **2. Most interesting LPS staff member?**

[00:31:51] **Dr. Tucker:**
**David Evans**, former board member. Brilliant thinker, generous mentor, huge influence on our Graduate Profile and strategic work. A true power couple with his wife, Laura.

### **3. Prediction: How many snow days this year?**

[00:34:28] **Dr. Tucker:**
**Six.**
We might be in for a deep freeze. (But ask me again in January!)
And yes — snow-day mornings are stressful. We’re up at 4 a.m., driving roads, monitoring conditions, coordinating with other districts, and making decisions by 5:30. Safety first.

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## **FINAL MESSAGE: What You Do Matters**

[00:38:19] **Dr. Tucker:**
Our theme this year is **“What You Do Matters.”**
Professionally, personally, and emotionally — we want every staff member, student, parent, and community member to know they matter.
Self-care matters. Mental health matters. Supporting one another matters.
You’ll hear this message throughout the year — because it’s at the heart of who we are.

---

[00:40:30] **Dallas Ackerman:**
Thank you, Jeremy, for your time and leadership. Wishing you a great school year.

[00:41:00] **Announcer:**
Thanks for joining us on *In the Loop with LPS*. Follow Liberty Public Schools on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, or visit lps53.org for more information.