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What would you change if you could design a high school from the ground up and actually make it real? Kendall Terry has lived that challenge, moving from high school science teacher to department chair to STEM coordinator, and then into schoolwide leadership at Clayton Bradley Academy in Tennessee. We swap stories that are fun on the surface, but quickly turn into the deeper work of educational leadership: building systems, earning buy-in, and creating learning that feels meaningful for kids and adults.

We get into what makes students lean in rather than check out, especially in subjects like science where “memorize and move on” has become the default. Kendall shares how hands-on learning, real-world experts, and authentic problems can turn reluctant students into curious learners. Then we flip the lens to teachers: professional development works best when it respects time, stays interactive, and connects to the real world. One powerful example is giving educators opportunities to shadow professionals outside school so they can bring fresh relevance back to the classroom.

We also unpack what it takes to build a STEM program that sticks, including cross-curricular collaboration with CTE, scheduling realities, and projects that instantly create engagement like a full crime scene investigation. Finally, Kendall explains Clayton Bradley Academy’s brain-based learning approach, the Learning Centered Schools model, and why life skills and lifelong guidelines matter as much as content mastery for long-term success. You’ll hear outcomes ranging from Ivy League pathways to entrepreneurship, student-built 3D printed prosthetics, and national recognition for student history work.

If you’re a principal, aspiring administrator, instructional coach, or teacher leader looking for practical ideas on school design, faculty development, and brain-based learning, hit subscribe, share this with a colleague, and leave a review so more educators can find the show.

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