Making Opportunities Visible Through Design with Susan Morgan
Release Date: 02/25/2026
Putting Students at the Center of Every Dollar with Yuri Calderon - CASBO 2026
Better Learning Podcast
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...
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What Matters Most in School Leadership with Dr. Todd Cutler - CASBO 2026
Better Learning Podcast
In this episode, Dr. Todd Cutler, Superintendent of Lake Tahoe Unified School District, discusses what it truly means to build schools that transform communities. He shares his belief that education shapes the future of entire communities, not just individual students, and reflects on his journey through three superintendencies to find what matters most in school leadership. Dr. Cutler highlights the district's innovative career tech education programs, dual enrollment partnerships with Lake Tahoe Community College, and a recently passed bond focused on creating flexible, engaging learning...
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From Pittsburgh vs. Philly to School Transformation with David Marshall – PASBO 2026
Better Learning Podcast
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: LinkedIn: Instagram: ...
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From Pittsburgh vs. Philly to School Transformation with Maureen Oakley – PASBO 2026
Better Learning Podcast
In this episode, Maureen Oakley, a school business professional at Pottstown School District in Southeastern Pennsylvania, brings a refreshingly candid and relatable voice to the conversation about what it's like to build a career in school finance — and why the field is at a critical inflection point. A South Jersey native and lifelong Philly sports fan, Maureen stumbled into school business the way many do: looking for a job with a pension, landing in payroll, and discovering that working close to kids in a mission-driven environment was far more satisfying than corporate accounting....
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From Pittsburgh vs. Philly to School Transformation with Nicholas Erickson – PASBO 2026
Better Learning Podcast
In this episode, Nicholas Erickson, Director of Technology Services at Waynesboro School District in South Central Pennsylvania, shares what it's like to be the person responsible for everything with a plug — from pencil sharpeners to AI and robotics. With 18 years in education, 16 of them at Waynesboro, Nick offers a grounded and collaborative perspective on how technology serves as the connective tissue that holds a modern school district together. Learn More About Kay-Twelve: Website: LinkedIn: Instagram: Episode 318 of the Better Learning Podcast Kevin Stoller is the...
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From Pittsburgh vs. Philly to School Transformation with Wayne Gehris – PASBO 2026
Better Learning Podcast
In this episode, Wayne Gehris, Chief Financial Officer for the Reading School District, delivers one of the most compelling full-circle stories in this entire PASBO conference series. A proud Reading graduate (class of '93) who attended a high school of 5,000 students before heading to nearby Albright College, Wayne spent 17 years in public accounting before getting a call that would change everything: Reading was on the verge of a state takeover, and a team was being assembled to turn it around. Twelve years later, he's still there — and the work is anything but finished. Learn More...
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From Pittsburgh vs. Philly to School Transformation with Siobhan McMahon – PASBO 2026
Better Learning Podcast
In this episode, Siobhan McMahon, Deputy Executive Director of the Association of School Business Officials (ASBO) International, pulls back the curtain on the organization that supports roughly 11,000 school business professionals across North America. She shares how ASBO works behind the scenes — not in classrooms or districts, but providing the tools, resources, professional development, and advocacy that allow school business officials to do their jobs effectively. Learn More About Kay-Twelve: Website: LinkedIn: Instagram: Episode 317 of the Better Learning Podcast Kevin...
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From Pittsburgh vs. Philly to School Transformation with Lori McCoy – PASBO 2026
Better Learning Podcast
In this episode, Lori McCoy, Director of Food Services at Colonial School District in the Philadelphia suburbs, brings a refreshingly different perspective— one focused not on budgets or buildings, but on what students eat, how they eat, and why it matters deeply for learning. A registered dietician with nearly 20 years in the role, Lori oversees food service operations across seven schools serving 5,700 students daily, managing everything from breakfast and lunch programs to catering, vending, kitchen equipment procurement, and staff HR. Learn More About Kay-Twelve: Website: ...
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From Pittsburgh vs. Philly to School Transformation with Sidney Clark – PASBO 2026
Better Learning Podcast
In this episode, Sidney Clark, School Business Manager at Shanksville-Stonycreek School District in rural South Central Pennsylvania, offers a heartfelt look at what it means to serve one of the smallest school districts in the state — just 285 pre-K through 12th grade students. He shares how the tight-knit, community-centered environment shapes every financial decision he makes, treating all 285 students as his own kids. Learn More About Kay-Twelve: Website: LinkedIn: Instagram: Episode 316 of the Better Learning Podcast Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning...
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From Pittsburgh vs. Philly to School Transformation with Ellen Darlington – PASBO 2026
Better Learning Podcast
In this episode, Ellen Darlington, Director of Solutions and Customer Success from C&A Scientific, discusses the company's mission to provide affordable, high-quality hands-on STEM learning kits for K–12 students. She makes a compelling case for why physical, tactile learning experiences — like that classic exploding volcano — are irreplaceable, and why the neuroscience clearly supports hands-on engagement over screen-based learning. Learn More About Kay-Twelve: Website: LinkedIn: Instagram: Episode 315 of the Better Learning Podcast Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better...
info_outlineWhat if your school building wasn’t just a place where learning happens, but one of the most powerful teachers in the room?
In this episode, Jessica sits down with Susan Morgan to explore how thoughtfully designed spaces can spark curiosity, boost confidence, and expand what students believe is possible. From hallways that invite discovery to classrooms that adapt to every learner, Susan reveals how architecture can quietly shape mindsets, behaviors, and futures.
Drawing from her own journey where she helped design her Montessori school as a child to leading innovative projects across the country, Susan shares how truly student-centered environments are built through empathy, collaboration, and bold “what if” thinking.
Takeaways:
- Buildings as learning tools: Design schools that actively participate in learning, not just house it
- Start with "what if": Invite all stakeholders to reimagine possibilities before focusing on constraints
- Remove barriers to curiosity: Create environments that support natural learning instincts rather than limiting them
- Make opportunities visible: Use spatial connections so students are exposed to disciplines they might not otherwise discover
- Design for adaptability: Treat schools like museums—plan for environments to evolve with changing pedagogy and technology
- When learners thrive, communities flourish: This is the heart of radically student-centered design
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 304 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/
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