Better Learning Podcast

Inside Rock Hill's $336M Vision for Safer, Smarter Schools with Andrew Jones

In this episode, Matt Rogers sits down with Andrew Jones, Executive Director for Safety and Emergency Management at Rock Hill School District (South Carolina), to explore how safety and design intersect in modern school construction. Andrew shares his winding path from youth ministry to law enforcement, teaching, and school administration before landing in his current role. The conversation dives deep into the district's new Sunset Park Elementary School project — a $336 million, 10-year facilities initiative — covering CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design), hardwired...

Student-Centered Leadership in a Small District with Dr. Amy Alzina

Better Learning Podcast

In this episode, Jeff Kubiak talks with Dr. Amy Alzina, superintendent of Cold Spring School District, about running a high-performing small school district in Santa Barbara County. They cover the mission of the Small School Districts Association, building genuine student connection beyond the classroom, designing flexible and indoor/outdoor learning spaces, funding strategies and community trust, and career advice for aspiring school business officials. The conversation closes on emerging school finance trends, concerns over new leave legislation's impact on students, and cautious optimism...

Designing a Second Home for Students with Learning Differences with Shara Bumgarner & Janann Pittman

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In this episode, host Matt Rogers and co-host Dr. Brian McCraw talk with Shara Bumgarner, cofounder of Houston's Joy School, and architect Janann Pittman of Jackson & Ryan Architects about creating a K-8 school built for kids with learning differences. From the school's humble start with four students in 1997 to its thoughtfully designed campus today, Shara and Janann unpack how intentional design - down to door handles and bathroom stalls - can turn a school into a true second home. They dig into individualized instruction, the "it depends" philosophy, and why joy, not just remediation,...

Learning by Region at A4LE Georgia

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

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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

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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...

More Episodes

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 decisions that shaped one of the largest middle schools in the state into a place where students feel seen, supported, and inspired.

Takeaways:

Student-centered design starts with listening. Every design decision — from natural light to furniture flexibility — should trace back to how students will actually use and experience the space. Architects must ask questions, sit with uncertainty, and let what they hear shape the design.
Break large schools into smaller communities. The "concentric rings of support" strategy used at Maria Weston Chapman Middle School shows how architecture can combat the anxiety of scale by creating nested communities — from a team of ~100 students up to a grade, and then the whole school.
Early visioning documents anchor every future decision. A district-wide educational plan created at the start of the process serves as a reference point throughout design, ensuring that smaller decisions continue to reinforce the bigger goals — and giving districts a durable consensus to build on.
Architecture supports behavior; it doesn't create it. Great teaching and learning are already happening. Well-designed spaces — with good acoustics, natural light, adaptable technology, and flexible furniture — don't manufacture engagement, they remove barriers to it.
Adaptability and budget are not opposites. Long-lasting schools require flexible spaces, but that doesn't mean endless square footage. Smart sequencing of spaces, movable furniture, and robust materials can create adaptable environments without exceeding budgets or losing funding votes.

About James Liebman:

James Liebman is a Senior Associate at HMFH Architects, a women-owned architecture firm nationally recognized for innovative, sustainable, and student-centered school design. With 29 years of experience, James skillfully balances stakeholder input, public budgets, and accelerated schedules to deliver K-12 schools that enhance student well-being and reflect the communities they serve.

As Project Manager for the LEED Gold-certified Chapman Middle School, he led design and construction administration for this 1,470-student facility, the largest middle school in Massachusetts. James earned his Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Virginia and his Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania.

Episode 335 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/

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