This episode, hosted by Katie Jubenville, takes listeners on the road to the A4LE Southeast Regional Conference, featuring conversations with architects, educators, and facility planners about creating better learning environments. Guests discuss what it means to be "radically student-centered," the messages school buildings send to students and teachers, exciting trends in school design, and how to elevate teacher practice and gauge whether a school is thriving.

Our guests, in order of appearance:

Paulette Myers:

McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture

Architect

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulette-myers/

Matthew Pierzchala, AIA, NCARB, ALEP, WELL AP:

Larson Design Group

Client Leader | Senior Architect | Education Planner

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-pierzchala-aia-ncarb-alep-well-ap-8976311a/

Dr. Burke Royster:

Greenville County Schools

Superintendent

https://www.linkedin.com/in/burke-royster-b9436b56/

Robert Oetting:

Beaufort County School District

Chief Operations Officer

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-oetting-a9742514/

Sophia Tarkhan AIA, NOMA, LEED AP, Fitwel Ambassador & Kate Edwards, AIA, NCARB:

Cooper Carry

Project Architects

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophia-tarkhan-aia-noma-leed-ap-fitwel-ambassador-64792a12/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-edwards-aia-ncarb-937a167/

Joseph Campbell, MS:

Charleston County School District

Construction Procurement Supervisor

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-campbell-ms-741b61b8/

Aimee Eckmann, FAIA:

Perkins&Will

Firmwide K-12 Practice Leader

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aimee-eckmann-faia-269a584/

Episode 340 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

This episode comes from the A4LE Northeast Regional Conference in Rochester, New York, hosted by Jessica Westerduin. Guests discuss indicators of a successful school building, what it would mean to walk into their designs 20 years from now, the value of stakeholder collaboration, the role of flexible furniture and adaptability, and the challenges school leaders face guiding their communities through transitions and long-term visioning.

Our special guests, in order of appearance:

Lemuer Perez M.A. ED.:

University Academy Charter High School

Educational Consultant

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lemuer-perez-m-a-ed-752854145/

Matthew Gallerani, AIA:

GWWO Architects

Architect

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-gallerani-aia-1ba88431/

Julie Spence, AIA, ALEP:

Lavallee Brensinger Architects

Educational Planner

https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-spence-aia-alep-a706588/

Elizabeth Geldres AIA, PMP, LEED AP, NOMA:

Stantec

Architect, Senior Project Manager, and K-12 Studio Leader

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-geldres/

Jeremy Dwyer, AIA:

CannonDesign

Vice President

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-dwyer-aia-8ab0948/

Emily Czarnecki:

JCJ Architecture

Design Principal

https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-czarnecki-a9863212/

Jennifer Grafton, AIA, ALEP & Melissa Martin:

SCHRADERGROUP (Jennifer) & New Holland Elementary School (Melissa)

PA PK-12 Market Segment Leader (Jennifer) & Principal (Melissa)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifergrafton/

Episode 343 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

In this episode, host Katie Jubenville brings listeners conversations from the A4LE Georgia Chapter Conference on Jekyll Island. Guests explore what "Radically Student Centered™" design truly means, the everyday details students notice that adults overlook, partnerships between design firms and educators, and creative problem-solving during construction — plus some fun local picks for how they'd spend a day on Jekyll Island.

Our guests, in order of appearnace:

Namrata Dani, AIA:

Corgan

Architect

https://www.linkedin.com/in/namratadani/

Jill Hackett:

Turner & Townsend Heery

Director

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillwofford/

Jesse Frasier:

Turner & Townsend Heery

Vice President

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessefrasier/

Carissa Shrock Oyedele, AIA, NCIDQ, LEED AP BDC:

Corgan

Associate Principal, Senior Project Manager & Architect

https://www.linkedin.com/in/carissa-shrock-oyedele-aia-ncidq-leed-ap-bdc-566a3685/

Heli Shah:

CDH Partners, Inc.

Project Director

https://www.linkedin.com/in/helishah/

Jamie B. Case:

CDH Partners, Inc.

Principal (Jamie) & Project Director (Heli)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-b-case-5a640012/

Dawn Hill:

Elbert County School District

Special Education Administrative Assistant

Episode 344 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

In this episode, Yuri Calderon, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services at Orange Unified School District, discusses what it truly means to lead with students at the center — even from the business office. Yuri shares his philosophy of removing the "business hat" and instead focusing on aligning every dollar and resource as close to the classroom as possible. He reflects on lessons learned across his career in Santa Barbara, small and rural districts, and now Orange Unified, making a compelling case for why small districts are often the most innovative. Yuri also dives into the power of replicating and iterating on great ideas, what a thriving school actually looks like when you walk through the doors, how to align vendor and architect partnerships around what matters most for kids, and why reading — not AI summaries — remains his go-to tool for continuous learning.

About Yuri Calderon:

Yuri serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Business Services for Orange Unified School District, leading all financial and operational functions for a 42-school system with an annual budget exceeding $400 million. He oversees budget development, multi-year financial planning, and fiscal strategy to maintain long-term structural stability in a complex public funding environment.

Yuri also partners with the Superintendent and Board of Education to drive strategic decision-making, strengthen organizational effectiveness, and ensure transparent, data-informed governance. He is committed to building high-performing systems that maximize resources in support of student success.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuricalderon/

ycalderon@orangeusd.org

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 330 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.

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

This episode, hosted by Matt Rogers and Katie Jubenville, features conversations from the A4LE Midwest Great Lakes Regional Conference in St. Louis. Guests compare favorite landmarks to the Gateway Arch, then dig into what "radically student-centered" design means, sharing stories about maximizing impact beyond simple building replacement, engaging students and communities in the design process, and what separates schools that merely function from those that truly transform their communities.

Our guests, in order of appearance:

Josh Chism, PE, CEM:

Capital AE

President

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshchism/

Nicole Esser Dryden:

Plunkett Raysich Architects, LLP

Senior Associate

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-esser/

Philip Riedel, AIA:

NAC Architecture

Principal, PK-12 Sector Leader

https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-riedel-aia-a72b3522/

Brad Erwin:

Paragon Architecture

President

https://www.linkedin.com/in/braderwin/

Jeff Vandel:

North Kansas City Schools

Executive Director of Facilities

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-vandel-8b8a1ab/

Roger Bearup:

Grandville Public Schools

Superintendent

https://www.linkedin.com/in/roger-bearup-1432b8112/

Nicholas Kent:

Plunkett Raysich Architects, LLP

Partner

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-kent-a3604211/

Dr. Stephanie Loane:

CSO Architects

Senior Associate

Brenton C. Hite, AIA:

CSO Architects

Principal (Brenton) & Senior Associate (Stephanie)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brenton-c-hite-aia-70704838/

Episode 342 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

This episode features conversations recorded at the A4LE Southern Regional Conference in Austin, Texas, hosted by Dr. Brian McCraw and Nick Marmolejo. Guests dig into themes like community-driven design processes, trauma-informed design, furniture and flexible learning spaces, the overuse of "learning stairs," strong architect-educator partnerships, and what truly makes a school thrive versus merely function.

Our guests, in order of appearance:

Jody Sergi, AIA, LEED AP:

Kirksey Architecture

Partner and Director, PK-12 Practice

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jody-sergi-aia-leed-ap-0005a53/

Cody Boyd, AIA:

PBK

Senior Principal

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cody-boyd-aia-98368a35/

Olivia Graf:

Architecture for Education

Partner / Design Principal

https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-graf-7a0a8065/

Katie Becker:

JLG Architects

Architect and K12 Planner

https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiebecker1/

Gary Armbruster, FAIA, ALEP:

MA+ Architecture, L.L.C.

Owner

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-armbruster-aia-alep/

Easy Foster, RTSBA, FAIC, CPC, LEED AP:

Conroe Independent School District

Executive Director Planning & Construction

https://www.linkedin.com/in/easyfoster/

Brad Hunt:

JLG Architects

K–12 Strategy & Partnerships

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-hunt-b14264286/

Sloan McLain:

Austin Independent School District

Administrative Supervisor of Learning Space Integration

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sloan-mclain-25a26b21/

Episode 341 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

In this episode, David Marshall, CSC Contract, Grant and Operations Manager for the Center for Schools and Communities — a division of the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit based in the Harrisburg area — brings a unique vantage point to the conversation: an engineering background, 16 years in corporate America, 12 years as a facilities director, and now seven years as a business manager. That combination of technical, operational, and financial experience shapes everything about how he approaches his work.

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 326 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.

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