Better Learning Podcast Podcast Por Kay-Twelve arte de portada

Better Learning Podcast

Better Learning Podcast

De: Kay-Twelve
Escúchala gratis

The Better Learning Podcast is about improving education at all levels - Schools (public, charter, private, independent), Higher Education, & Corporate/Adult Learning. The major theme is to break down the silos and learn from others doing innovative things in education. We highlight innovative programs & initiatives, lessons learned, improvements to educational space, and real-world tactics while getting a deeper understanding of the people behind the innovation. Our guests include Heads of Schools, Superintendents, Principals, Entrepreneurs, Non-profit leaders and other innovators. Kevin Stoller, CEO of Kay-Twelve & author of Creating Better Learning Environments, is the host.©Copyright 2026
Episodios
  • Designing Schools That Last For Generations with David Schrader

    Designing Schools That Last For Generations with David Schrader
    Mar 25 2026

    What if the buildings we design for learning could shape communities for generations?

    In this episode, Mark Barga sits down with David Schrader, Principal at Schrader Group (now part of Cord Coplan Macht), to explore what it truly means to design schools that serve as community centers. From an unlikely start designing correctional facilities to walking through Alcatraz with drooped shoulders, David shares how he found his calling in academic design—and why he believes every school should feel like a town green surrounded by spaces where learning happens.

    Takeaways:

    • Start with the learner, not the line item: When districts lead with conversations about students and learning processes rather than dollars and timelines, you know you're stepping into something transformative
    • True partnership means going on the journey together: The best projects span years—sometimes decades—of relationship building, surviving multiple boards and administrations while staying rooted in community values
    • Flexibility isn't a buzzword—it's a warehouse mentality: Build simple structural bays where walls can move; combine that with modern furniture, and you've created adaptable environments the fifties never imagined
    • Watch how industry thinks about space: The most forward-thinking work environments drip down through higher ed into K-12—and ideally, should start in pre-K and lift with learners throughout their journey
    • The best buildings are community centers that happen to teach: Twenty years from now, success isn't about the design holding up—it's whether the building still feels like the heart of its community
    • Design for timelessness, not trends: Avoid the puke-green glazed tile of one era or the split-face block and standing seam roofs of another—build something that can't be pinpointed to a decade

    About David Schrader:

    Principal, Academic Programmer, Planner, and Designer

    For 35 years, David's professional experience has been focused on the design of next generation educational facilities. David acts as Principal-in-Charge and leads the design team throughout the project duration to develop and execute design solutions that achieve all client goals.

    His ability to create a vision with his clients has fostered significant success for all involved including the client, the design team and the public-at-large. "Partnership in design is key to creating a better designed environment for each client."

    Learn More About Kay-Twelve:

    Website: https://kay-twelve.com/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kay-twelve-com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kay_twelve/

    Episode 308 of the Better Learning Podcast

    For more information on our partners:

    Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/

    Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/

    Second Class Foundation - https://secondclassfoundation.org/

    EDmarket - https://www.edmarket.org/

    Catapult @ Penn GSE - https://catapult.gse.upenn.edu/

    Want to be a Guest Speaker? Request on our website
    Más Menos
    42 m
  • Teamwork Makes the Dream Work with Erica Thompson

    Teamwork Makes the Dream Work with Erica Thompson
    Mar 18 2026
    What if a school could rebuild not just itself, but the community's trust and identity? In this episode, Carla Cummins and Nick Marmolejo sit down with Erica Thompson, Business Development professional at Wells Building Systems, to explore how schools serve as the heartbeat of their communities. From her unexpected journey through accounting and Colorado's early marijuana industry to becoming a passionate advocate for K-12 construction, Erica shares how building schools is about far more than bricks and mortar—it's about creating spaces where students discover who they are. Drawing from her work across Colorado's diverse communities, Erica reveals how the built environment shapes student identity, why schools are "networking machines," and how one Denver neighborhood fought to reclaim their closed high school—and won. Takeaways: Teamwork makes the dream work: Radically student-centered design means shifting from "me" to "we"—creating environments where students learn to build their teams and cultivate lifelong relationships Schools are networking machines: Beyond academics, schools create micro-communities—band kids, athletes, robotics crews—where students form identities and connections that last decades Research the community, not just the building: Understanding demographics, attending town halls, and reading master plans reveals what each unique community truly needs from their school Strategic, not sacrifice: When budgets tighten, stay rooted in your district's mission—make strategic decisions rather than compromising what students deserve Measure success by who comes back: When Montbello High School reopened after a decade, 1,100 of 1,200 freshman seats filled immediately—proof that communities will invest in spaces that invest in them Design for generations: Today's students become tomorrow's parents and grandparents—build schools that honor the past while serving futures you'll never see About Erica Thompson: My career began with an ambitious plan to become a nuclear engineer, which quickly pivoted (after an honest math check) to accounting. I earned my CPA license at 22 and began auditing small to mid-sized banks during the very exciting years of 2007 to 2014. That experience led me into the emerging medical marijuana industry, where I helped companies create GAAP-compliant accounting practices in a world needing it. Reconciling cash without banks was as unconventional as it sounds, and it taught me adaptability, creativity, resilience, and humor. While entrepreneurship sparked my interest in sales, it was construction manufacturing that truly shaped my career. I entered the industry as a Sales Representative at General Shale, where I helped amplify regional brick sales and adopted my guiding motto: Teamwork Makes the Dream Work. Under the mentorship of Mark Stutz and later Jared Rabin at Rio Grande, I learned the power of solution-based selling. Shifting from providing products to solving real problems. These mentorships taught me to build long- term, developmental relationships, one of which ultimately led me to Wells. Today, I serve in Business Development at Wells, where I focus on connecting with end users to gather insights, identify market opportunities, and support strategic growth. Surrounded by strong leadership, including Dan Parker, I've found my professional home. This role naturally led me to A4LE and a passion for learning environment spaces that do far more than house education; they anchor communities, shape generations, and serve as points of connection. I highlight leadership throughout my story because my journey has never been just about "me". It's a collective we. None of this happens alone. Teamwork Makes the Dream Work. LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-thompson-cpa-csi-cdt-141906172/ Learn More About Kay-Twelve: Website: https://kay-twelve.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kay-twelve-com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kay_twelve/ Episode 307 of the Better Learning Podcast For more information on our partners: Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/ Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/ Second Class Foundation - https://secondclassfoundation.org/ EDmarket - https://www.edmarket.org/ Catapult @ Penn GSE - https://catapult.gse.upenn.edu/ Want to be a Guest Speaker? Request on our website
    Más Menos
    30 m
  • How School Architecture Shapes Student Futures with Jesse Miller

    How School Architecture Shapes Student Futures with Jesse Miller
    Mar 11 2026

    What if the buildings we design for students could shape not just how they learn, but who they become?

    In this episode, Jeff Kubiak and Carla Cummins sit down with Jesse Miller, Managing Senior Principal at PBK Architects, to explore how K-12 architecture can transform education from the ground up. From designing Compton High School alongside Dr. Dre to creating spaces where students don't want to leave, Jesse reveals how thoughtful design decisions today can impact generations of learners for the next century.

    Drawing from over two decades designing schools across California, Nevada, and Texas, Jesse shares how truly radically student-centered environments are built through vision, community input, and asking one essential question: will this make a student's daily experience better?

    Takeaways:

    • Design for a hundred years, not today: Schools must outlast current pedagogy—ask what education looks like 70 years from now, not just what works in 2026
    • Every square foot matters: From corridor nooks to bathroom design, if a student will experience it, it deserves intentional thought
    • Put learning on display: Create environments where students can "shop their future" by seeing what peers are creating and achieving across campus
    • Include every voice: Teacher workshops reveal current needs, but student workshops unlock what's truly possible—get both perspectives before a single line is drawn
    • Flip the script on control: Traditional schools were optimized for managing students; radically student-centered schools support how they learn, move, collaborate, and belong
    • Measure success by who stays: When kids don't want to leave campus at 9 PM, you've designed something right
    • When learners thrive, communities flourish: This is the heart of radically student-centered design

    About Jesse Miller:

    With over twenty two plus years of expertise in architectural design and sustainable solutions, I currently serve as Managing Senior Principal at PBK overseeing the West Region, where I contribute to innovative and sustainable civic and education projects. I currently lead over 260 design and engineering professionals committed to elevating our clients places and spaces into environments beyond imagination. My previous leadership role as Regional Sector Leader for DLR Group allowed me to drive impactful design strategies in the California K-12 sector, leveraging my skills in design research and sustainable architecture.

    Certified as an architect by the California Architects Board and holding credentials as a LEED Green Associate and DBIA professional, I am dedicated to fostering collaborative environments that prioritize sustainability and innovation in educational spaces. My mission is to create designs that inspire learning and positively impact communities.

    Learn More About Kay-Twelve:

    Website: https://kay-twelve.com/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kay-twelve-com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kay_twelve/

    Episode 306 of the Better Learning Podcast

    For more information on our partners:

    Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/

    Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/

    Second Class Foundation - https://secondclassfoundation.org/

    EDmarket - https://www.edmarket.org/

    Catapult @ Penn GSE - https://catapult.gse.upenn.edu/

    Want to be a Guest Speaker? Request on our website
    Más Menos
    44 m
Todavía no hay opiniones