On May 1st, I took part as a judge at Wheat Ridge High School for their senior Capstone presentations. Each student shared a four year passion project, blending math, reading, and writing into something that mattered to them. Just in my room the topics ranged from car mechanics to the mental ripple effect a head trauma can have on immediate family and relatives. For 15 years, this tradition has connected students with their community in powerful ways.

In this episode, I’m joined by Heather Bureau, the Instructional Coach behind Capstone. She shares how the program shapes students, parents, and teachers alike, and how her own love for coaching and supporting young people fuels the work she does. This conversation is about education, community, and the spark we all carry to make a difference.