How a Popular Radio Program Inspired Unique Community Storytelling
At a Grant Public Schools board meeting in March, Principal Carol Dawson and Assistant Principal Travis Devos proudly accepted a $2,500 check as part of the Education Excellence Awards, recognizing a program that has had a profound impact on their students and community.
Born out of a desire to reconnect with students after the isolating effects of COVID-19, the program uses short, engaging videos shared 2-3 times per week to strengthen relationships, reinforce positive behaviors, and celebrate the community.
A Creative Approach to Connection
During the height of the pandemic, Dawson and Devos were searching for new ways to engage students beyond the classroom. As in-person learning resumed, they still felt the need to foster stronger connections with students from kindergarten through fourth grade.
Inspired by Free Beer & Hot Wings, a nationally syndicated radio show, they put their own school-friendly twist on the name. “Since we offer free lunch and breakfast at our schools, we came up with the name Free Milk & Nuggets,” said Dawson.
The concept was simple but effective: Meet students where they are – on YouTube. Recognizing how integral the platform had become for learning and entertainment, Dawson and Devos embraced it as a tool to connect in a fun and memorable way. With Dawson as “Milk” and Devos as “Nugget,” they started filming, and the students quickly bought in.
“Now our students are teaching us the lingo – don’t forget to hit that subscribe button,” joked Devos.
How It Works
Each video is unique, blending education with humor, storytelling, and real-world experiences. To expand students’ understanding of their community, Free Milk & Nuggets is often filmed at locations throughout town, giving them a virtual look at places they may not have explored before.
Students have visited the local food pantry, grocery store, bank, school bus garage, sporting fields, and even the state capitol in Lansing. These segments help students see themselves as part of a larger community, broadening their understanding of the world around them.
“It’s completely changed our relationship with our students,” said Dawson. “Because they can see us being silly, they view us as caring adults, not just authority figures. We want to be their go-to people in the school alongside our teachers.”
By combining entertainment with education, Free Milk & Nuggets has become more than just a morning announcement – it’s a celebration of learning, connection, and community.
A Meaningful Impact
The program’s impact extends far beyond the screen. Students gain a fun and engaging way to learn school expectations, discover local resources, and feel connected to trusted adults. Teachers benefit from a tool that reinforces classroom lessons and strengthens school culture. And for the broader community, the program serves as a bridge, promoting local organizations and their role in supporting students.
“My favorite part of this program is how it has changed interactions in the hallways,” shared Devos. “The students see me differently – I’m more approachable. In the past, the kindergartners wouldn’t come up to me, but now I’m Nugget to them and they’re excited to engage.”
Dawson echoed this sentiment. “From a leadership perspective, this is now a shared experience for all our students. They all connect through Milk and Nugget and share that common bond with our community. To be an effective leader in education, you have to show humility and a little bit of silliness to build those relationships.”
Looking Ahead
The ultimate goal of Free Milk & Nuggets is to foster a sense of belonging and strengthen social-emotional connections for Grant Public Schools’ students and beyond. But, sustaining and growing the program requires time and resources.
Thanks to grants like the SET SEG Foundation’s Education Excellence Awards, the program is evolving. “Our recent investment in equipment to build an announcement studio is a big step toward inviting students to participate in filming, content creation, editing, blogging, and podcasting,” said Dawson. “This initiative will enhance creativity and hands-on learning, giving students valuable skills and deeper engagement.”
And the impact won’t stop in Grant. Dawson and Devos plan to share their model with fellow principals and school administrators throughout Michigan, hoping to inspire similar programs in other districts.
“Principals often operate in silos so often, but we’ve proven there are creative ways to connect with students and make an even bigger impact – both inside and outside the school walls,” said Dawson.