S02 E02: Feeding the Golden Bears, Kids on the Street & Bear in the Chair!

Release Date: September 2, 2026

Duration: ~44 minutes 

Show Notes: Link

In this episode of the #BryanBuilt Podcast, host Chris Malanga and Superintendent Mark Rairigh return to the desk six days into the 2026-2027 school year to break down a smooth launch across the district. From major Arts Education auditorium renovation updates to an operational deep dive with Food Service Director Marchetta Caryer, Episode #2 celebrates the team effort feeding nearly 1,200 Golden Bears daily

This episode covers:

The News Feed: Superintendent Mark Rairigh announces that the board accepted a $7.345 million construction bid from Mel Lanzer Company to renovate and expand our historic auditorium. We also highlight district-wide free meals, smooth school transportation launches, and the Spangler Candy World Kickoff Contest during GBSN broadcasts.

Food Service Insights: Food Service Director and Head Varsity Softball Coach Marchetta Caryer shares the early-morning operations behind serving 1,200 lunches every single day. Marchetta details her staff's dedication to kindness in the lunch line and how the district is proactively preparing for 2027 nutritional guidelines. Then, we put Marchetta’s taste buds to the ultimate test in a blind French Toast Stick challenge! Can our Food Service Director identify her own kitchen's golden recipe on the first bite, or will a store-bought contender throw her off?

The Fun Segment: We take the microphone out of the studio and head straight into the elementary hallways for "Kids on the Street"! Do our young Golden Bears even know who Mark is? How about their school colors or mascot? And what the heck are those things hanging from the cafeteria ceiling? Mark asks all this and more.

New Segment (Bear in the Chair): We debut our brand-new, intern-led feature "Bear in the Chair," hosted by media interns Morgan Killgallon and Zoey Gillett. They sit down with 7th-grade ELA teacher and 2022 Bryan alum Allie Zimmerman to discuss her journey returning to teach and coach in her hometown.

Golden Bear Standout: We wrap up the show by honoring super-fan brothers Carter, Hayden, and Garrett Nowaczyk as our Golden Bear Standouts. From listening to the podcast on repeat to helping out around campus, these three young Golden Bears exemplify school spirit!