Better Learning Podcast

We are all familiar with the challenges that COVID brought to school districts around the country. It was very disruptive to families. It was very disruptive to educators. Everyone. This led to a lot of lost boundaries, structure, and rythems in which we are built for. This led to teachers struggling to find the end of their work day which negatively impacted their mental health, family life, and much more.

Aaron Buehring is the Director of Educational Environments at the A&D firm Lionakis. His background as a professional anthropologist and interior designer offers a unique perspective on how humans interact with space and environments which informs his design process and outcomes. Aaron is passionate about delivering the most current thought leadership in NextGen learning environments through continuous learning, leading his own research initiatives, and presenting at educational conferences. In addition to designing schools, Aaron has created, invented, and developed numerous successful school furniture designs currently on the market.  Throughout his career, Aaron has won numerous California design awards as well as the Best in Competition at the 2017 and 2019 Ed Spaces Innovation Awards.

Anna Iversen is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist currently working with the Student Health Clinic at the University of California, Santa Cruz where she provides behavioral health consultation and supports efforts towards integrated health care. Additional areas of interest and expertise include anxiety, developmental trauma, PTSD, addressing addiction and other unsafe behaviors, grief and loss, co-dependency, relationship skills and working with individuals who have chronic medical conditions to improve their overall functioning.

Season 7, Episode 6 of the Better Learning Podcast

https://www.betterlearningpodcast.com/

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

The environments we create have a positive impact on students' lives. With a vision to enhance life through design, Sami, John and Brendon live that vision every day which helps them create extraordinary solutions.

Brendon defines success as helping other people. Back in 1989, Brendon started out at Kingscott as an intern, creating ink drawings of completed buildings for the marketing department. He had no way of knowing that his career path would lead him to become Kingscott’s seventh President. In addition to his role as President, he is also is the company's K-12 leader and a CEFPI certified educational planner.  From working together with his clients to formulate extraordinary solutions that help students succeed, Brendon possesses exceptional problem-solving skills.

As a Design Architect at Kingscott, Sami solves challenges through architecture, creating spaces that reflect communities and improve their daily lives. Sami maintains the philosophy that architecture must follow the lead of its users and accommodate their needs - from the day-to-day, to the special occasion - and adapt over time to meet those needs. Sami views schools and their communities as true partners in the design process, combining their expertise of the many functional needs of the space with her expertise in creative cohesive design solutions that adapt and grow with the users.

John Davids has had a diverse career that includes professional practice as a designer/studio leader, providing volunteer architectural work for community organizations, and as Architect-in-Residence at Frank Lloyd Wright's "Snowflake House." He believes in Public Education and works hard every day to do his part in making great spaces for teaching and learning because he believes in kids!

Season 7, Episode 4 of the Better Learning Podcast

https://www.betterlearningpodcast.com/

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

Why does research into learning spaces matter? And how do you conduct it?

Murray Hudson and former teacher Bhavini Pandya will take you through one of the most important new research studies into the relationship between pedagogy and space. They will reveal how a detailed three-year study was put into place in a working school, with unique access to the pupil’s test scores. The results show that optimizing the learning environment leads to better educational outcomes. QED.

Murray Hudson is the co-author of Planning Learning Spaces; A practical guide for architects, designers and school leaders. The book demonstrates cutting-edge approaches to educational space design, from primary to college studies, and explains how these spaces support education and enhance learning experiences. Murray is also Managing Director of Gratnells Ltd, the leading manufacturer of school storage and space optimization. Murray travels extensively, visiting schools across the world to better understand how to create the optimal learning environment. Murray has worked in the education industry for more than twenty years and is a member EdMarket USA Equipment Manufacturers Council. He lives in Cambridge, UK and can be spotted on his bike at weekends.

Bhavini Pandya is a former primary school teacher and leads the Planning Learning Spaces in Practice team. The team works directly with schools across the world to demonstrate how the practices outlined in the book can improve learning environments and shape the minds of our future generation. Bhavini was key in running the Cambridge research project in the school where she used to work. To the children at Trumpington Park Primary School she is still ‘Miss Pandya.’

Season 6, Episode 32 of the Better Learning Podcast

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

What is the biggest challenge your school district has been trying to overcome for years?

In most cases today, School Leaders would say the implementation of innovation that can be felt throughout the school district. We call this, challenging the status quo.

Innovative trends are only going to continue to accelerate in the coming years with the development of artificial intelligence and augmented reality. Why? Because embracing innovation for our students will provide them with the necessary tools to succeed the challenges of the future workplace settings and give them the skills in order to continuing adapting as our world continues to evolve.

That is why many schools like The Meadows School in Las Vegas, Nevada have implemented what we call a Chief Innovation Officer. Joseph Carver, formerly the Director of Technology at Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart, took over the newly created position back in 2021 with over twenty years of experience in higher and secondary education. In his current position he oversees the direction of Technology, Student Support Services, Enrichment Programing and Professional Development. This past year, The Meadows School launched an aggressive Professional Development program geared toward faculty growth and retention, distributing a quarter of a million dollars across three distinct tracks. Conceived by Carver, the program alleviates faculty loan debt while also subsidizing ongoing learning opportunities.

He is the father of a son, Jay and daughter, Madeline and is married to Dana Randall, the former Director of Debate at Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart and an Emory University Key Coach.

Season 6, Episode 31 of the Better Learning Podcast

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

Systemic transformation of education requires a sense of urgency by its decision-makers, leaders, and practitioners fueled by input from the community we serve. Our guest in this episode, Brad Latzke, is keenly interested in supporting individuals, teacher teams, school leadership, and school communities in a better understanding of how coming shifts in education will be historic and inevitable. Short-term linear thinking and planning need to be coupled with the acceptance of an ambiguous future influenced by exponential change.

Brad is a former middle school principal at Hong Kong International School and served previously as principal at Shanghai American School – Puxi Campus and American School of Doha. He has taught and served in school leadership positions at international schools in Colombia, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, Qatar, China, and Hong Kong.

Brad is highly skilled and experienced in all facets of middle school teaching and leadership, K-12 assessment including standards-based assessment and reporting, collaborative leadership, international education, leading teacher & administrative collaborative groups, and public speaking.

Season 6, Episode 30 of the Better Learning Podcast

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

Jason Barger is committed to engaging the minds and hearts of people in order to develop authentic leaders and cultures. He is the author of the bestselling books "Breathing Oxygen" "Thermostat Cultures" "ReMember" and "Step Back from the Baggage Claim" and is a sought-after keynote speaker and consultant.

Prior to sleeping in airports and observing human behavior, Barger led over 1700 people to construct 125 houses internationally for families living in poverty as well as implemented the Streets Mission Project to serve the homeless on the streets of Columbus, Ohio. As the former Director of First Community Church’s Camp Akita, he designed programming focused on living with joy, love, compassion, faith, and service for over 1900 campers a summer. Jason is a graduate of Denison University, where he served as Captain of the men’s basketball team, and also received certification from Georgetown University in Nonprofit Executive Management. In 2004, he was one of five people in Columbus, Ohio to receive a Jefferson Award, a national award given to “Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things”. In 2014, he was selected as a 40 Under 40 award winner by Business First. In 2021, Jason was recognized as a Top 200 Global Thought-Leader to follow. Jason is a sought-after Keynote Speaker, visionary, and consultant. As founder of Step Back Leadership Consulting LLC, he works with organizations that are passionate about Culture Change, Leadership Development, Innovation, Service, and bringing their Mission to life everyday.

Season 6, Episode 29 of the Better Learning Podcast

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

Writing is the only work Ryan knows that gives him an unbeatable excuse to go out and talk to neighbors, to watch Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood on a weekday morning, and to dig deeper into the problems that he cares about.

Ryan Rydzewski is an award-winning author and speaker. As a science and education writer, his stories focus on everything from schools to space travel to Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, and he regularly leads workshops for educators, parents, and neighbors. He's the co-author, with Gregg Behr, of WHEN YOU WONDER, YOU'RE LEARNING: MISTER ROGERS' ENDURING LESSONS FOR RAISING CREATIVE, CURIOUS, CARING KIDS.

As a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Ryan taught an extraordinary group of fifth graders before earning an MFA in nonfiction from Chatham University. Mister Rogers' Neighborhood was produced in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by Mister Rogers' non-profit production company Family Communications, Inc. which helped form Ryan's interest in Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.

Season 6, Episode 28 of the Better Learning Podcast

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

Scott Bess set out to break the one-size-fits-all high school academic mold and launch Purdue Polytechnic High School where students learn in an engaging, hands-on environment and are inspired to seek out what they learn rather than be told what to learn.

As Head of School, Scott created the vision and strategy for the initial Purdue Polytechnic High School in 2017. He has subsequently opened two more campuses. He is leading the planning for the expansion of Purdue Polytechnic High School throughout the state of Indiana.

Scott has spent most of his career innovating new ways to teach students and instill in them a love to learn. Prior to joining Purdue Polytechnic High School, Scott was President of Goodwill Education Initiatives and founder of The Excel Center, which offers adults who have dropped out of school an opportunity to earn a diploma. He helped expand The Excel Center’s model across the nation and today, The Excel Center serves more than 6,000 students in multiple states.

A proud graduate of Purdue University (B.S., Mathematics) and Marian University (M.A., Education), Scott has been a teacher, IT executive and business owner. He is a Pahara Fellow, has served on the boards for the Danville Community School District and EmployIndy, and currently serves on the Central Indiana Board of Ivy Tech Community College, the Region 5 Works Council and the Washington, DC, Goodwill Excel Center. Additionally, Scott was appointed to the State Board of Education in September of 2021. 

Scott has four grown children and lives in Danville, Indiana, with his wife, Robin.

Season 6, Episode 27 of the Better Learning Podcast

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast, Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture, and Executive Director of Education Leaders' Organization, the exclusive peer network for School Leaders.

This month revealed some amazing results with over $40B passed bonds for school capital funding around the country.

In this episode of the Better Learning Podcast, we sit down with Rachel Wisnefski, PhD who has over 15 years of extensive experience in business development and education market expertise. She serves as Chief Revenue Officer for The Amos Group.

The Amos Group is the parent company of SchoolBondFinder and SchoolNetwork. SchoolBondFinder is the first comprehensive, online database tracking K12 bond–funded capital improvement projects in the United States for solution providers. SchoolNetwork is a networking platform for K12 District Administrators to connect and collaborate; share funding project documents; review solution providers; and advertise RFP/RFQs nationwide.

In addition to her oversight on all customer-facing operations of The Amos Group, she also represents the company to current and prospective stakeholders, policymakers, partners, and government entities for the purpose of raising awareness of the brand in the private and public sectors. Dr. Wisnefski also serves as an elected representative on the Beaufort County Board of Education, serving the Beaufort County School District’s diverse student body of over 22,000 students. She previously served on the Board of Trustees for the Beaufort Jasper County Academy of Career Excellence, and also presently serves on the Board of Directors for the Education Market Association (EDmarket).

Season 6, Episode 26 of the Better Learning Podcast

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast, Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture, and Executive Director of Education Leaders' Organization, the exclusive peer network for School Leaders.

The Savannah Bananas think there’s a better way to do almost everything. So they try it all. Some people may think they’re crazy. But they are okay with that. No matter what, they just want one thing - to make baseball fun and ultimately give fans the best possible experience at the ballpark.

They call this Fans First.

Emily Cole is the owner of the Savannah Bananas with her husband, Jesse Cole, which is all about making baseball fun with a Fans First mentality. They're passionate about making baseball fun and are currently planning the 2023 Banana Ball World Tour which will take the Bananas across the US. They are also licensed foster parents and currently have 3 kiddos in their home.

Prior to her work with Fans First Entertainment which began in 2011, Emily spent time with Ripken Baseball and the Augusta GreenJackets as well as the Vermont Lake Monsters and the Binghamton Mets. Emily’s biggest passion with the team is working with the full-time staff, interns, and hundreds of game-day staff workers to focus on the culture, service, and logistics of events held at the ballpark.

Season 6, Episode 25 of the Better Learning Podcast

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast, Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture, and Executive Director of Education Leaders' Organization, the exclusive peer network for School Leaders.