I recently watched Court of Gold, a documentary that follows the top four men’s basketball teams at the 2024 Paris Olympics. During one of the practices, U.S. coach Steve Kerr said something that hit hard:
“Joy in others’ success – that’s the key to winning.”
And he’s right. Not just because he’s Steve Kerr and has the most NBA championships, but because without that kind of joy, it’s impossible to play at your best. At OUR best. It’s the foundation of anything done well – not just strong teams, but strong schools, strong communities, and strong families. When we have each other’s backs, we all move forward.
That idea is at the heart of Public School Kids, a statewide initiative that champions the freedom and opportunity public schools give Montana kids. Through video, portraits, and podcast interviews, Public School Kids tells the stories of Montanans – artists, athletes, ranchers, business owners, parents, teachers, and more – woven together to tell a bigger story about what it means to grow up in Montana. The podcast will dig into how smartphones are reshaping classroom culture, why great coaches matter more than ever, and what’s behind the disappearance of driver’s ed and practical skills. It tackles the multi-billion dollar youth sports industry, Montana’s growing teacher shortage, the fight to keep creativity in the curriculum, and discussions about whether Montana values should be instilled in our public schools – and which ones.
At a time when so much of our social life is shifting onto platforms designed to divide us, this series gets us all back in the gym to remind us of where we come from and what makes us great. And, no matter our age, background, hairstyle, or job title, we can still find joy in each other’s success, humor in our shared humanity, and a reflection of the values that connect us.
This is definitely a group project and we would love your feedback and support!
You can:
Buy a t-shirt.
Tell me about a Montana public school kid you admire, past or present.
Suggest topics or guests for the podcast.
Thanks for being here!