S01 E03: The Toastie Truth, Athletic Deep Dives & The Higher-Lower Showdown

Release Date: February 20, 2026

Duration: ~57 minutes

Show Notes: Link

In this episode, Superintendent Mark Rairigh and host Chris Malanga celebrate a major milestone—we are officially 100 days smarter! As we bridge the gap between winter and spring, we look ahead to Kindergarten and Preschool registration, a packed March calendar full of community events and performances, and the excitement building around spring athletics.

This episode covers:

• District Deep Dive: Athletic Director Nathan Keel joins the show to break down a dominant winter sports season and preview the transition to spring. From NWOAL Bowling titles to wrestling momentum and tournament basketball, we explore what makes Bryan Athletics “relentless.” We also get some insight into Mr. Keel, like what his go-to "walkup" song would be.

• The News Feed: Details on upcoming Kindergarten and Preschool registration and the Kindergarten Parent Meeting, previews of March events including CEO Day, Grandparents Day, and Right to Read Week, a look at upcoming music performances, and a preview of Spring Break.

• Community Mailbag: The legendary Cheese Toastie recipe is discussed. We share the foundation, the baking technique, and what gives this Bryan favorite its signature golden crunch and melty center – but you’ll have to listen closely to catch the full secret behind what makes it truly unforgettable.

• The Fun Segment: The gloves come off for the first-ever "Higher or Lower" district stats challenge. Chris and Mark battle for the title of #BryanBuilt Brainiac, testing their knowledge on everything from the $3.3 million in scholarships earned by seniors to the 2,350 cartons of chocolate milk served weekly at the elementary.

We wrap up the show by honoring our Golden Bear Standout, Kam Houk, 2nd Grade teacher, for being named the CORAS Elementary Educator of the Year and for her unwavering dedication to literacy and our youngest Bears.