Better Learning Podcast

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 Jill Hackett: Turner & Townsend Heery Director Jesse Frasier: Turner & Townsend Heery...

Learning by Region at A4LE Northeast

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 Matthew Gallerani, AIA:...

Learning by Region at A4LE Midwest Great Lakes

Better Learning Podcast

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 Nicole Esser Dryden:...

Learning by Region at A4LE Southern

Better Learning Podcast

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 Cody Boyd, AIA: PBK Senior Principal Olivia Graf:...

Learning by Region at A4LE Southeast

Better Learning Podcast

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 Matthew Pierzchala, AIA, NCARB,...

AI, Agency & the Future of Education with Dr. Sabba Quidwai

Better Learning Podcast

In this episode, Dr. Sabba Quidwai, CEO of Designing Schools, joins the Better Learning Podcast to explore how educators, students, and communities can navigate AI with hope instead of fear. Drawing on her own path from history teacher to Apple to education consultant, she shares how districts like Roseville Joint Union High School District are bringing students, staff, and community members together to co-design AI-era graduate profiles — and why courageous leadership, shared culture, and storytelling matter more than any specific technology. Takeaways: Hope is a teachable skill, not just...

Designing Schools Kids Are Proud Of with Amanda Vottis

Better Learning Podcast

In this episode of the Better Learning Podcast, host Jessica Westerduin talks with Amanda Vottis, an architectural designer at Mosaic Architects with over 12 years of experience in K-12 educational design. Amanda shares her winding path into school architecture, her philosophy of "radically student-centered" design, and a deep dive into the multi-year Saratoga Springs School District project — a "legacy" renovation initiative built on an educational plan shaped by community input, teacher feedback, and student voice. The conversation explores how thoughtful design (learning stairs, breakout...

Reimagining School Operations with Dr. Heather Sánchez

Better Learning Podcast

In this episode, Jeff Kubiak sits down with Dr. Heather Sánchez, Deputy Superintendent of the Bellevue School District in Washington, to explore what it looks like to lead a large public school district from both the instructional and operational sides of the house. Drawing on 26 years in education — from a border-town middle school teacher in New Mexico to overseeing HR, finance, facilities, transportation, and more — Dr. Sánchez shares how Bellevue is centering community voice in everything from strategic planning to building design, and why the most transformative ideas often start...

Lessons From 27 Years of Building Better Schools with Larry Levato

Better Learning Podcast

Mark Barga talks with Larry Levato, veteran educational architect at Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates, about what it really takes to design schools that serve students, teachers, and communities alike — and why the process matters as much as the product. Takeaways: Design for teachers too. Educators spend more time in school buildings than students. Great design treats teaching as a craft that deserves a professional environment. Listen before you design. Client relationships and deep listening are the foundation of every successful project — not design vision alone. Slow down to...

Building a Middle School that Supports Student Learning with James Liebman

Better Learning Podcast

In this episode of the Better Learning Podcast, host Jessica Westerduin sits down with James Liebman, senior associate at HMFH Architects, to explore how thoughtful school design can elevate student wellbeing, foster belonging, and support great teaching. Drawing on 30 years in architecture — from higher education to K–12 — James shares how the physical environment either supports or hinders learning, and how architects can create spaces that truly center students. Using the Maria Weston Chapman Middle School in Weymouth, Massachusetts as a case study, James walks through the design...

More Episodes

In this episode, Matt Rogers sits down with Candice Leinneweber, Director of Design at MA+ Architecture and 2025 EdMarket NextGen Award winner, for a wide-ranging conversation about what it takes to design schools that truly serve students. Candice shares her winding path — from a family bakery in San Diego, to an accounting class that sent her running toward architecture, to teaching college courses for seven years before becoming a licensed architect. The conversation digs into how her dual training in architecture and interior design shapes her approach to K-12 spaces, what it really means to design for security without creating a prison-like atmosphere, and the exciting Oklahoma Aviation Academy project currently under construction in Norman. Candice also shares her work chairing an AIA committee building a framework to expose K-12 students to careers in architecture and design.

Takeaways:

Design with the "why" first. Candice's core approach — whether working with a client, a contractor, or a student — is to keep asking why until you understand the real goal. That clarity is what separates a decision that holds up 20 years from one that just looks good on day one.
Security and joy aren't opposites. A recurring challenge in K-12 design today is creating spaces that feel open, welcoming, and engaging while also meeting rigorous safety requirements. Candice describes threading that needle on the Oklahoma Aviation Academy by designing for visibility, hiding places in emergencies, and an inviting open atmosphere simultaneously.
Meet students where they are. Whether through student surveys, post-occupancy research, or thoughtful space programming, truly student-centered design means designing for the full spectrum of learners — the quiet kid, the kinesthetic learner, the future engineer, and everyone in between.
Flexibility is the best hedge against an uncertain future. Rather than betting on what education will look like in 30 years, Candice designs spaces that can be rearranged, reprogrammed, and adapted — so a learning stair can be a tour stop, a study group, and a pickup class depending on the day.
Exposure is everything. Candice's AIA committee work is rooted in her own experience: she didn't discover architecture until late in college because she simply didn't know it was attainable. Creating pathways for students to shadow architects, visit job sites, and see what the field actually looks like can change the trajectory of a career.

About Candice Leinneweber:

Candice Leinneweber serves as Director of Design, integrating mentorship and leadership into the firm’s design culture while guiding innovative K–12 education projects. She champions collaborative engagement with school stakeholders to deliver thoughtful, user-centered environments that support learning and community impact. Candice also chairs a K–12 architecture awareness initiative with The American Institute of Architects, partnering with local school districts to expand access to architecture and engineering careers through tours, site visits, and curriculum integration.

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Episode 333 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/