Innovative Leadership in Education with Dr. Sarah Stone
Better Learning Podcast
Jeff Kubiak sits down with Dr. Sara Stone, Superintendent of Albany Unified School District in California’s East Bay, to discuss what it takes to lead meaningful change while building trust with a school community. With 32 years in education, Sara reflects on her journey from classroom teacher to superintendent and the lessons she has learned about leadership, collaboration, and putting students first. The conversation explores Albany Unified’s $63.8 million Measure L bond, which passed with 72% voter approval, and how the district is approaching facility upgrades, wildfire resilience,...
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The Role of Community Engagement in School Redesign with Dr. Robert Hunt
Better Learning Podcast
Matt Rogers sits down with Dr. Robert Hunt, Superintendent of Upper Arlington Schools, to explore his experience leading major school facility projects and the district’s current $273 million bond initiative for two new middle schools and an early childhood building. Dr. Hunt shares lessons from 16 years as a superintendent, including renovating a 100-year-old historic building in Chagrin Falls, navigating a major facilities referendum in Illinois, and now leading Upper Arlington through a process built around extensive community engagement. The conversation dives into how the district...
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What Community Members Get Wrong About School Construction with Dr. George Hummer
Better Learning Podcast
Kevin Stoller sits down with Dr. George Hummer, Superintendent of Frederick County Public Schools, to explore his journey from special education aide to school district leader, and the district's ongoing effort to build its fourth high school. Dr. Hummer shares how his mother's career as a special education teacher and his own experience working with students with disabilities shaped his empathy-driven leadership style. The conversation dives deep into the mechanics of planning new school construction — including the critical difference between "design capacity" and "program capacity," how...
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Leading Districts with Emotional Intelligence with Dr. Adam Swinyard
Better Learning Podcast
Dr. Adam Swinyard, Superintendent of Spokane Public Schools and 2023 Washington Superintendent of the Year, joins the Jeff Kubiak to discuss leading one of Washington's largest districts through a rapidly shifting information and mental health landscape. Adam shares how Spokane centers everything on relationships, why transparency and "doors and windows" communication have replaced the old top-down model, and how the district's Engage in Real Life initiative and revised cell phone policy are tackling the youth mental health crisis. He also reflects candidly on lessons learned since becoming...
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Reshaping How We View School Campuses with Dr. Sharon Bradley
Better Learning Podcast
Dr. Sharon Bradley, founder of Bradley Site Design and a landscape architect with four decades of experience, joins Matt Rogers to explore how school campuses can become powerful teaching tools rather than just backdrops. Sharon shares how her childhood in the English countryside shaped her belief in "environment as teacher," and explains her curriculum integration model — mapping specific lesson units directly onto campus features like whisper walls, bioretention gardens, and stormwater "raindrop journeys." She also discusses how early collaboration between landscape architects, building...
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Making Career Education Visible with Mark Shephard
Better Learning Podcast
Mark Shepard, K-12 Advisor at BVH Architecture, joins Carla Cummins to share his unusual path from industrial tech teacher to school superintendent to architectural firm advisor. Drawing on his experience leading a transformative CTE center project in Fremont, Nebraska, Mark discusses how listening to local industry and students — not just assumptions from educators — reshaped a district's approach to career and technical education. He dives into the design choices that put CTE on display rather than hidden away, the partnerships with local businesses that created real jobs for students,...
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Facilities Leadership in a Fast-Growing District with Matt Wark
Better Learning Podcast
Matt Wark, Chief Facilities Officer for Forsyth County Schools, joins Katie Jubenville to share his unconventional path from a struggling student written off by his own guidance counselor to leading facilities for one of Georgia's fastest-growing, top-performing school districts. Matt discusses how his personal journey through teaching, administration, and district leadership shapes his "houses, not buildings" philosophy of facilities management, and dives into how Forsyth balances explosive growth with maintenance, community trust, and cost. He also shares his perspective as president of the...
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Making Every Dollar Count with Jennifer Gibb
Better Learning Podcast
In this episode, Jeff Kubiak talks with Jennifer Gibb, Vice President of Business Development at Van Pelt Construction Services, about turning school bond measures into real buildings. With 20+ years spanning district facilities leadership, bond program management, and consulting, Jen shares how districts navigate tight budgets, layered funding sources, and community skepticism to deliver modern learning environments. The conversation dives into strategic bond planning, the real story behind fast-tracked construction after a razor-thin bond vote, balancing capital projects against general fund...
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Turning Campuses into Learning Tools with Orin Williams
Better Learning Podcast
Jeff Kubiak sits down with Orin Williams, Assistant Superintendent of Facilities, Planning, and Development at Riverside Unified School District, to unpack a 33-year career in school facilities planning. Orin traces his path from architecture school at Cal Poly Pomona through private practice into public education facilities, sharing how his design background shapes his advocacy for thoughtful, human-centered school environments. The conversation covers turning aging campuses into cohesive learning spaces, building community trust around bond projects, balancing tight budgets against big...
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Inside Rock Hill's $336M Vision for Safer, Smarter Schools with Andrew Jones
Better Learning Podcast
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...
info_outlineIn 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 with a simple "what if?"
Takeaways:
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Walk both sides of the house. Coming from instruction into operations gives Dr. Sánchez a rare ability to connect learning directly to logistics.
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Listen before you build. The best designs — buildings, programs, strategic plans — start with community voice, not a blueprint.
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Systemize the fires so you can dream. Clear crisis protocols free up the mental space leaders need for long-term vision.
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Small ideas, big impact. The Bellevue Welcome Center started with one hallway conversation. Transformation often does.
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The students are already ahead of us. They're bolder, more creative, and more advocacy-minded than ever. Follow their lead.
About Dr. Heather Sánchez:
Dr. Heather J. Sánchez is a high-impact and systems-focused K–12 executive known for delivering measurable academic results while leading complex organizations with precision, clarity, and vision. With more than 20 years of experience leading high-performing school systems, she strengthens academic outcomes, ensures operational excellence, and expands access to innovative learning opportunities. In her role as Deputy Superintendent, she provides executive leadership across district operations, human resources, and finance and business services, aligning organizational strategy, talent, and resources to deliver on the district’s strategic plan and drive measurable results for students.
Dr. Sánchez oversees a comprehensive portfolio that includes financial stewardship, human capital strategy, facilities and capital programs, student services, and enterprise operations. She is recognized for her ability to integrate long-range planning, fiscal discipline, and organizational effectiveness with a clear focus on teaching and learning. Her leadership ensures that budgets, staffing models, and operational systems are tightly aligned to district priorities, enabling schools to deliver high-quality instruction and strong student outcomes.
Previously serving as Chief of Schools and Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Sánchez led districtwide improvement efforts that resulted in measurable gains in early literacy and mathematics, while strengthening instructional coherence and expanding access to accelerated learning, dual language programs, STEM opportunities, and student choice. She has a strong track record of advancing innovation and ensuring systems evolve to meet the diverse needs and aspirations of students and families.
Across leadership roles in Washington, Colorado, and New Mexico, Dr. Sánchez brings a rare combination of financial acumen, business-minded leadership, and deep educational expertise. She has served at every level of the PK–12 system, including classroom teacher, instructional coach, school principal, Director of Teaching and Learning and Accelerated Programs, Executive Director of Schools, Chief of Schools, Chief Operating Officer, and now Deputy Superintendent, gaining experience across elementary, middle, high school, and district systems levels. Grounded in this comprehensive background, she maintains a strong commitment to students, families, and educators, prioritizing clarity, communication, and a supportive, high-expectations culture. She is known for building trust with boards and communities, navigating complex challenges with sound judgment, and delivering results through disciplined execution.
Dr. Sánchez holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy, a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction and Educational Leadership, superintendent certification, and principal and teacher certifications. She has been nationally recognized through Chiefs for Change (Future Chiefs) and Women Leading Ed (Emerging State Executives). Her honors include the Washington Association of School Administrators Doyle E. Winter Excellence in Leadership Award and the Washington State School Achievement Award.
Originally from New Mexico, Dr. Sánchez is committed to academic excellence, responsible governance, and future-ready systems that prepare every student for success in college, career, and life.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-heather-s%C3%A1nchez-22171136/
Episode 337 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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