Pulse of the Bay – with Beth Paap – Episode 13

Summary

In this episode of Pulse of the Bay, host Fred Clark sits down with Bayfield School District Superintendent Beth Papp for a wide-ranging conversation on education, culture, and community. A Red Cliff tribal member with more than 30 years in education, Papp reflects on her personal journey, the legacy of her family, and how that history shapes her work today.

She highlights Bayfield’s unique role as an Indigenous-majority district, its groundbreaking Ojibwe language immersion program, and the importance of creating schools that reflect and honor the communities they serve. The conversation also touches on challenges like public perceptions, technology use in classrooms, and school safety—while underscoring the importance of partnerships with families, volunteers, and the wider community.

Takeaways

• Personal Journey: Papp’s Red Cliff heritage and family history of educational barriers inspired her lifelong commitment to teaching and leadership.
• Community Schools: Bayfield Schools strive to be true community schools, welcoming families, neighbors, and knowledge keepers.
• Ojibwe Immersion: A pioneering Ojibwe language immersion program, expanding grade by grade, reflects a commitment to cultural revitalization.
• Academic Rigor: Contrary to perception, Bayfield students perform strongly, with immersion and multilingual learning boosting cognitive growth.
• Social & Emotional Focus: Robust student services support emotional wellbeing and family partnerships.
• Community Engagement: Feasts, events, and volunteer opportunities bring together families, elders, and neighbors.
• Challenges: Enrollment perceptions, standardized testing pressures, technology overuse, bullying, and school safety remain key focus areas.
• Future Vision: Continued emphasis on cultural identity, balanced technology use, strong PR, and expanding educational pathways.

Resources

Bayfield School District – https://bayfield.k12.wi.us

Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa – https://redcliff-nsn.gov

Act 20 – Early Literacy – https://dpi.wi.gov/wi-reads/act-20-faq

Act 31 – Wisconsin Indian Education Law – Wisconsin DPI Act 31

Wadookadaading Ojibwe Immersion School (LCO) – https://www.wadookadaading.org

UW-Green Bay Rising Phoenix Program – https://www.uwgb.edu/rising-phoenix

Book: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt – https://honestdogbooks.com/item/zb7C99cVE0xi_WnJA8zFSQ