**[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 on various district hot topics and opportunities to meet all of those that help make LPS great, *In the Loop with LPS* is here to provide yet 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 to *In the Loop with LPS*, the official podcast of Liberty Public Schools. Dallas Ackerman back with you, and this week we’re talking Blue Jays. And when you think Blue Jays, you have to start with the principal, Dr. Mike Sharp, and the student council president, that being Grayson Horowitz. So glad to have them join us here to have a chat.

**[00:00:59] Dallas Ackerman:**
It’s obviously a big week at Liberty High, as at the time of this interview, you’re in the midst of homecoming week with so many festivities. I’m going to go ahead and have you start, Dr. Sharp, and tell us how everything is in Blue Jay country.

**[00:01:13] Dr. Mike Sharp:**
Well, we’re excited to kick off homecoming week. Our school’s decorated. Our leadership DECA kids came in over the weekend and got everything decorated and looking nice for the busy week. So that’s great. A great way to be a Blue Jay, for sure.

**[00:01:27] Dallas Ackerman:**
We’re going to get to know you and introduce you to our audience in just a bit, but Grayson, thanks again for being here, coming in on short notice.

**[00:01:36] Grayson Horowitz:**
Yeah, thank you so much for having me. This is going to be fun.

**[00:01:39] Dallas Ackerman:**
So what’s homecoming week like for you being student council president? You’re also one of the finalists to be king, correct? You just have all—you’re very involved. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a student quite like you as involved as you are. Tell everybody what you’re involved in at Liberty High.

**[00:02:05] Grayson Horowitz:**
All right, so I’m involved in student council as the president. I’m in the drumline, center snare. I do Jay Rock, and I’m also in our school’s improv troupe, August 16.

**[00:02:18] Dallas Ackerman:**
Are you still playing tennis?

**[00:02:19] Grayson Horowitz:**
Oh my gosh, yeah. I also play tennis for boys tennis.

**[00:02:22] Dallas Ackerman:**
I’ve seen you in action. You’re a good player as well. So what’s your experience been like at Liberty High now as a senior? We always talk about how fast the time goes.

**[00:02:39] Grayson Horowitz:**
Oh my goodness, I mean, it’s unreal how fast the time goes. I remember my freshman year like it was yesterday when my friend said it’s going to go by so fast. And now I look back and it went by so much faster. The Liberty High School experience has been so welcoming, and I’ve gotten to experience all the different corners of Liberty High School. Everywhere I go, I can find a place I can call home. That’s super special, and that’s why Liberty is amazing.

**[00:03:04] Dallas Ackerman:**
Dr. Sharp, back to you. Speaking of time going fast, you’re now well settled into your role as principal at Liberty High. Could you tell our audience a little bit about yourself?

**[00:03:16] Dr. Mike Sharp:**
Sure. This is year seven in LPS for me, three as principal, which is an honor and a privilege to serve our community in that role. It’s a pretty exciting year to walk up the drive every day and look at the flagpole and our beautiful school and get to hang out in this amazing place.

**[00:03:36] Dr. Mike Sharp:**
Outside of that, I have two beautiful girls and my wife, and right now I’m pretty much a full-time Uber after school because I drive my girls to dance and soccer.

**[00:03:48] Dallas Ackerman:**
Grayson Horowitz, senior at Liberty High, and Dr. Mike Sharp, the principal, joining us this week. I’d like both of your perspectives on the building administrator and student relationship. What is that dynamic like?

**[00:04:25] Dr. Mike Sharp:**
For me, it’s very much a partnership. We try to operate from “us” as much as we possibly can. We have to keep everybody safe and keep learning going, even during a fun week. There are a lot of conversations and checkpoints—not just with Grayson, but his entire cabinet and the teachers who help oversee student council. It’s about open communication and trying to make things happen when students feel something will improve their experience.

**[00:05:08] Grayson Horowitz:**
It’s really cool. It starts with “yes.” If we have an idea, it’s “let’s see how we can get it done,” not “that probably won’t work.” Dr. Sharp will drop in during leadership hour just to check in. It really feels like a team.

**[00:05:31] Dallas Ackerman:**
You mentioned Jay Rock, and you guys absolutely blew the top off the field house at convocation in August. Tell us how that all came about.

**[00:06:06] Grayson Horowitz:**
It started about a year and a half ago. I was at a football game, they were playing rock music over the intercom, and I thought, I want to do this. I can play that on my guitar. I started finding people, we put it together piece by piece, and it just came together. It was pretty magical.

**[00:06:55] Grayson Horowitz:**
Convocation was super positive. I was so nervous—about 2,000 people in that gym—but it was really awesome. Teachers came up to us all week saying good job.

**[00:07:56] Dr. Mike Sharp:**
It’s been a tremendous start to the school year. There’s great energy in the building. Attendance is about two percent higher than in the past. People want to be here.

**[00:09:21] Dr. Mike Sharp:**
We’re lucky to have such a beautiful school, amazing students, and incredible staff. Why wouldn’t we want to show that off?

**[00:10:05] Grayson Horowitz:**
The bell project is about creating a permanent space by the football field to build traditions and celebrate Liberty High.

**[00:11:28] Dr. Mike Sharp:**
It just means more to be a Blue Jay. People are proud to graduate from Liberty High School.

**[00:12:29] Dr. Mike Sharp:**
With the field house, PAC, remodeled wings, turf fields, and courts, we’re incredibly thankful. The projects are worth it in the end.

**[00:16:27] Dr. Mike Sharp:**
The cell phone policy is about protecting instructional time. Our students and teachers have done a tremendous job with it.

**[00:18:02] Grayson Horowitz:**
Classes are more efficient, and people are more social. We’re making connections again.

**[00:19:01] Grayson Horowitz:**
Homecoming has a scavenger hunt, movie night, parade, assembly, and a great football team.

**[00:20:56] Grayson Horowitz:**
I plan to attend a four-year college and study biology. Wisconsin would be my dream.

**[00:21:41] Dallas Ackerman:**
We appreciate you both joining us and wish you the best with the rest of homecoming week.

**[00:21:47] Dallas Ackerman:**
That’ll wrap things up for this week. Thanks for listening.

**[00:22:07] Announcer:**
Thanks for choosing to spend a few minutes with us and getting in the loop with LPS. This has been a production of the Liberty Public Schools Communications Office.