Wednesday 31st December 2025

October Pack the Backpack Winner: Megan Schutt from Grinnell-Newburg

Our October Pack the Backpack winner is Megan Schutt, Kindergarten Teacher at Bailey Park Elementary School in the Grinnell-Newberg School District. She was nominated by her sister, Emily Louden. Here is her nomination later:

Megan Schutt is an outstanding kindergarten teacher at Bailey Park Elementary in Grinnell, Iowa.

Megan meets every student she encounters where they are emotionally and educationally to help define what success will look like for them. She is patient and kind as well as funny and imaginative. Megan goes above and beyond for every student to make them feel important and successful.

Megan buys special gifts and snacks for students when they reach a goal making them even more proud they accomplished what they set out to do. Her students are engaged and if they struggle she finds a way to help teach them so they feel they can do anything they set out to do.

She often gives up lunch time, planning time, and even personal time for her students. She is invested in their success even after they leave her classroom at the end of the year. One of the biggest hearts, best smiles (and laughs), and a truly amazing encourager.

I wish you could spend a day watching her do what she loves. She is truly amazing and is such a gift to her students, their families, and her co workers. Grinnell Newburg School District is better because of her and the blessings she offers.

I hope you will consider her for the Pack the Backpack.

Sincerely,

Emily Louden

Take a listen to Megan’s radio interview below or watch her reaction right here:

Pack the Backpack, presented by Central Office Supply, a division of Minuteman and Kix 101.1! Each month during the school year, we will be awarding $101 to a Kix Country classroom to help out with supplies. We will award the prize on the last Wednesday of the month. You can listen to each new winner at 8:30a on the Morning Kix Start.

Nominate your Kix Country class by submitting a letter to us at backpack@kixweb.com

 

More Episodes

the-list-2025-2
Jonathan Knight

The List for Tuesday, December 30th 2025

Welcome to The List,

Kim Kardashian just answered the age-old question: what do you buy for someone who has everything? A $125,000 bike from Pee-wee’s Big Adventure. Kim gifted Kourtney the iconic red bike, which came from a private collection and went for way more than expected at auction. Kourtney called it the “coolest Christmas present.” Meanwhile the rest of us are out here comparing air fryer prices.

-----

Thomas Rhett told People magazine that he loves jumping into whatever hobbies his kids are into. He says that’s what his dad did for him, and now it’s his turn. One week it’s something new, this week they’re riding horses. He says every kid needs one-on-one time. Which is sweet… and also explains why that man is always exhausted.

-----

If you listened to country music at all in 2025, congrats, you basically listened to Jelly Roll and Morgan Wallen. Year-end streaming and radio numbers show both guys dominating the most-played tracks of the year. Post Malone, Shaboozey, and Jordan Davis also landed big. Classic voices mixed with newer hits defined the year. And yes, Post Malone is still country’s weird cousin who keeps getting invited back.

-----

It’s official. Stranger Things just dropped the trailer for its series finale, and it’s pushing every nostalgia button known to man. Hopper gives Eleven a pep talk, Vecna’s still mad, red skies everywhere, and emotions are running high. The finale hits New Year’s Eve on Netflix and will also screen in theaters. One last trip to the Upside Down. Prepare your feelings.

You can catch The List, weekday afternoons at 4:20 with Jonathan Knight. Only on Iowa’s BEST Country KIX 101.1

 
Listen Now »
the-list-2025-2
Jonathan Knight

The List for Monday, December 29th 2025

Welcome to The List,

Kelly Clarkson’s friends are reportedly worried she’s doing way too much. Surprise to everyone, she’s apparently signed on for another season of The Voice. An insider says between her talk show, Vegas residency, multiple homes in New York, Montana, and L.A., plus raising kids, Kelly is running on fumes. She’s financially fine, but she keeps saying yes because the iron is hot. At some point you have to rest, but good luck convincing Kelly Clarkson to slow down.

-----

Brantley Gilbert says New Year’s Eve just reminds him he’s getting older, and he has plans especially with his birthday coming up in January. But this year, he’s excited. He’s heading to Iowa to ring in the New Year deer hunting with Lee and Tiffany LaKosky. No parties, no champagne, just the woods and a rifle. Honestly, that sounds way more peaceful than Times Square.

-----

Zach Top admits he misses the slow, predictable rhythm of farm life. He says things used to move slower, and now he wakes up in a different town every day. Fame is great, but there’s something about knowing exactly where you’ll sleep at night. Turns out success still comes with homesickness.

-----

And here we go again. Jennifer Lopez is allegedly still not over Ben Affleck. An insider says she jokes about the divorce publicly and pretends she’s moved on, but behind the scenes she’s still finding ways to stay connected. According to the source, she’s nowhere near letting him go. At this point, Ben is less an ex and more a recurring series.

You can catch The List this afternoon at 4:20 with Jonathan Knight. Only on Iowa’s BEST Country KIX 101.1

 
Listen Now »