As we kick off Season 12 of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, we explore a question that sits at the heart of education reform. What does it actually look like to design a school around preparing young people for the real world?

In this episode, we welcome Carlos Moreno, educator, author, and Executive Director of Big Picture Learning. Carlos brings a systems-level perspective shaped by his work as a teacher, principal, district leader, and national education executive.

Together, we examine why creativity often gets squeezed out of traditional school models, how fear and compliance shape decision-making, and where untapped creative potential lives in public education. Carlos shares the core design principles behind Big Picture schools, including advisory systems, real-world learning, student exhibitions, and the powerful idea of educating one student at a time.

We also discuss leadership, relationships, and the role of love, care, and vulnerability in building creative school cultures, drawing from Carlos’s book Finding Your Leadership Soul. This conversation challenges us to rethink control, trust educators and students, and design schools that help young people discover purpose, agency, and voice.

Carlos Moreno is an educator, author, and national education leader who currently serves as Executive Director of Big Picture Learning. He has worked as a teacher, principal, and district leader, and co-founded the Deeper Learning Equity Fellowship. Carlos is the author of Finding Your Leadership Soul and is widely recognized for his work supporting equity-centered, relationship-driven school design.