Finding Her Voice: How Raelynn’s Holes Podcast Showcases Student Agency in Fleming County Schools

Eighth grader Raelynn, a member of the Class of 2031 at Simons Middle School, is using creativity and voice to deepen her learning. For her BRIDGE Performance Indicator project, she created a podcast based on the novel Holes. What began as a class assignment became a meaningful opportunity to express her ideas. She wrote her own script, recorded a voiceover, and shared her interpretation of characters and themes.

Her work shows how Fleming County’s Vibrant Learning framework comes to life through student choice and authentic learning. By creating her own podcast, Raelynn demonstrated the Student Agency cornerstone, which encourages students to take responsibility for their learning through purposeful, student-led tasks.

Student Agency In Action

Student Agency emphasizes independence, responsibility, and inquiry that grows from student choice. Raelynn’s project reflects each of these qualities. She approached her reading assignment with creativity and initiative, transforming it into a polished digital product that required planning, technology skills, and thoughtful reflection.

“I used my imagination and original ideas to create a product and present it to my class,” she explained. She also identified areas where she could grow, noting that she would improve by slowing down her speaking and reading the entire book before recording. This shows metacognition and a willingness to reflect on her process.

Student Voice and Project Highlights

From her reflection and podcast recording, three details stand out. 

• “I used my imagination and original ideas to create a product and present it to my class.” 

• “If I were to do this again, I would read the entire book first to understand the story better.” 

• In her narration, she highlighted lines such as, “Mr. Sir said, ‘You’re going to be thirsty for the next 18 months if you don’t get used to it.’” This shows how she connected with the text and communicated character perspectives.

Together, these moments illustrate her development as a reader, communicator, and independent learner.

From Scores to Stories: Academic Vision in Action

Raelynn’s podcast reflects Fleming County’s approach to moonshot accountability. The district seeks a fuller picture of student growth, one that values reflection, creativity, and evidence of learning throughout the year. Her work demonstrates communication, creativity, innovation, and self-reflection. These are durable skills that support success in school and future endeavors.

Under the BRIDGE Performance Indicators, Raelynn is building her capacity in Innovation and Creativity. Her podcast required design thinking that included drafting, revising, recording, and presenting in a format that reached a real audience. These practices align with the expectations that prepare students for college, career, and life.

Advancing the Vibrant Ecosystem

The Fleming County Vibrant Ecosystem framework calls for visible learning, authentic products, and student voice at the center. Raelynn’s podcast advances this vision in several important ways.

• Authentic learning: She connected literature to media production, expanding her reading response into a digital format.

• Student voice: Her narration and reflection made her thinking clear and gave her ownership of the assignment.

• Community connection: By sharing her podcast on her BPI website, she contributed to a culture where learning is visible to teachers, families, and peers.

Her work supports the district’s belief that accountability is a shared promise grounded in transparency and meaningful growth.

Ready for Life

The skills Raelynn practiced through this project go far beyond middle school. She is learning how to communicate her ideas, reflect on her progress, and grow from feedback. These habits support the district’s Growth and Achievement competency, which encourages perseverance and continuous improvement.

Her insight and reflection, “If I were to do this again, I would read the entire book first,” shows maturity and an understanding of how preparation shapes strong work. These are the qualities that help students become ready for life.

Learning Made Visible

Raelynn’s Holes podcast represents more than a classroom task. It reflects Fleming County’s shift toward stories of learning that show growth, voice, and purpose. Through Student Agency, her project demonstrates how students can lead their own learning, express their ideas, and create meaningful work that connects to their future.