Episode Details

Anthony Godfrey:
Hello and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. She has an undying love for teaching and the students in her care at Riverside Elementary School.

On this episode of the Supercast, we sit down with third-grade teacher Olena Bradford, who was born and raised in Ukraine and now calls Utah home. Find out how her school community has surrounded Olena with love and support during a very emotional time, and how Ms. Bradford remains passionately committed to her students and classroom while finding ways to help family and friends impacted by war in her homeland.

We're here with Olena Bradford at Riverside Elementary. Just to talk about your experience as a teacher and you have had quite a year, haven't you?

Olena Bradford:
Well, it was an interesting year and we had many great things going here in school in Riverside. And also there are many different things that are happening in the world right now.

Anthony Godfrey:
You're from Ukraine. Tell me about coming here to the United States and growing up in Ukraine.

Olena Bradford:
I came to the United States about 15 years ago and when I came here, I did not speak any English. I've learned English here. In Ukraine, I was attending the Ukrainian school, so everything was in Ukrainian, all the subjects. After graduating from the high school, I attended the Pedagogy University in Izmail, Ukraine in the south. It's one of the most south points in Ukraine, on the border with Romania.

I was working in school since 1993. I was working on my doctorate degree at Odessa University at the same time. Later on, I became an assistant principal of the school in Ukraine. So I was combining administrative and coaching responsibilities for elementary school in Ukraine.

Anthony Godfrey:
Now, today marks 100 days of war in Ukraine. Tell me about the impact on your family and your friends.

Olena Bradford:
I think this war affected everyone in this world, not only people in Ukraine, but people in so many other countries. Everyone who is standing up right now in Ukraine is being extremely brave and being an example to me. The president of the country is like a model for me how to be a grateful leader and stay with the people, every person, support, stand up, and protect everyone who you're responsible for.

Anthony Godfrey:
We have seen a lot of examples of bravery, courage, and leadership coming from Ukraine. And I do think the world has been impacted as a whole by those positive examples. It's just a tragic situation and devastating damage and death. But I was first made aware of you because people were so amazed at your ability to stay focused on teaching and students in such a terrible circumstance. How are you able to do that?

Olena Bradford:
I think that thinking about every student in my class helped me to be focused and help each of them because my kids are here and they need me. They need my support and they need my help.

Anthony Godfrey:
We have Olenna's principal, Mike Trimmel, here. Mike, tell me about Olenna's dedication to her students during this difficult time.

Mike Trimmell:
Absolutely. Olena, if I didn't know her personally and know what her and her family were going through, you would never know