Building Communities, One School at a Time

In this inspiring episode of The Public School Podcast, Sara Hornick and Bobbi Schaefbauer sit down with Dave Swank, a former Canyon Lake Elementary principal, Teach For America alum, USD professor, and proud Rapid City schools graduate.

Dave shares his unlikely journey from “ten-and-a-half-year undergrad” to teacher, principal, and now board member for the Rapid City Public School Foundation. With humor and heart, he reflects on the moments that shaped him, from being mobbed by kindergarteners on the playground to launching interest groups, personalized learning, and the Lakota Immersion School on historic ground.

He opens up about what it really means to lead a school, why principals are the “mayors of tiny communities,” how to protect and support teachers, and why innovation thrives when educators have freedom to try new ideas. Whether he’s explaining sandbox pottery, the magic of soup-and-frybread Fridays, or what truly makes public schools vital, Dave brings insight, warmth, and genuine love for education.

This conversation is thoughtful, fun, and full of real talk from someone who’s lived almost every role in a school building.

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Citations

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