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 of replicating and iterating on great ideas, what a thriving school actually looks like when you walk through the doors, how to align vendor and architect partnerships around what matters most for kids, and why reading — not AI summaries — remains his go-to tool for continuous learning. About Yuri Calderon: Yuri serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Business Services for Orange Unified School District, leading all financial and operational functions for a 42-school system with an annual budget exceeding $400 million. He oversees budget development, multi-year financial planning, and fiscal strategy to maintain long-term structural stability in a complex public funding environment. Yuri also partners with the Superintendent and Board of Education to drive strategic decision-making, strengthen organizational effectiveness, and ensure transparent, data-informed governance. He is committed to building high-performing systems that maximize resources in support of student success. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuricalderon/ ycalderon@orangeusd.org 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 330 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/ Want to be a Guest Speaker? Request on our website

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: https://kay-twelve.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kay-twelve-com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kay_twelve/ Episode 326 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/ Want to be a Guest Speaker? Request on our website

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: https://kay-twelve.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kay-twelve-com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kay_twelve/ Episode 318 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/ Want to be a Guest Speaker? Request on our website

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: https://kay-twelve.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kay-twelve-com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kay_twelve/ Episode 317 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/ Want to be a Guest Speaker? Request on our website

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: https://kay-twelve.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kay-twelve-com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kay_twelve/ Episode 316 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/ Want to be a Guest Speaker? Request on our website

In this episode, Scott A. Chappell, Business Administrator at Derry Area School District, brings a deeply personal perspective to school finance — he's a graduate of the very district he now leads. That full-circle story shapes everything about the way Scott approaches his work, from understanding the community's values to feeling a genuine sense of pride and responsibility every time a dollar is spent. 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 324 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/ Want to be a Guest Speaker? Request on our website

In this episode, Jason McMillen, Director of Business Programs and Services at Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8, shares his unexpected journey from aerospace engineer to school business leader with over 17 years of experience. He explains the role of Pennsylvania's 29 intermediate units, originally created to provide special education services, and how they continue to support school districts across the state. 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 314 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/ Want to be a Guest Speaker? Request on our website

In this episode, Randy S. Williams, Sr., M.Ed., Director of Transportation for Wilson School District in Pennsylvania, discusses the often-overlooked role that school transportation plays in shaping students' daily experiences. He shares his journey from 34 years in transportation to pursuing his educational doctorate and superintendent certification at Wilkes University, driven by a desire to give back to the field. 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 313 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/ Want to be a Guest Speaker? Request on our website

In this episode, Dr. Joni Mansmann, Director of Business & Finance at Canon-McMillan School District, shares her remarkable journey from Mellon Bank in downtown Pittsburgh to nearly two decades leading school business operations — armed with a teaching degree, a doctorate in education, and a deep passion for the mission of public schools. She's living proof that school business officials are far more than budget managers. 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 320 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/ Want to be a Guest Speaker? Request on our website

What if the way you lead a school could speak to every student, teacher, and family who walks through the door? In this episode, Carla Cummins sits down with Superintendent Chris Mason of Quitman ISD in East Texas to explore what happens when a leader brings 22 years of diverse education experience — from coaching junior high kids to navigating federal programs — to the challenge of reimagining what a small rural school district can become. From his unexpected pivot out of criminal justice to championing mental health access and radical transparency, Chris shares how great school leadership isn't about having all the answers on day one — it's about listening, showing up, and building a culture flexible enough to become whatever students and teachers need it to be. Takeaways: Leadership starts with presence, not a plan: Great leaders don't arrive with the answer on day one — they show up, build relationships, and earn the trust that makes real change possible. Being present and being available are two very different things, and both matter. Transparency isn't a strategy — it's a standard: When you say you're going to be open, you have to actually be open. Sharing the why behind decisions, inviting input at every level, and making sure your actions match your words is the only way to build a culture people believe in. Student-centered means all students, always: It can't be student-centered when it's convenient. From food service workers to bus drivers, every adult in a building has the opportunity — and the responsibility — to be a champion for a kid. That's not a talking point; it's a non-negotiable. Change takes slower than you think — and that's okay: For a leader who loves rearranging the desks, the hardest lesson is that going fast means going slow first. Front-loading information, finding early adopters, and giving people time to sit with new ideas is the only way change actually sticks. Student voice is the next frontier: Listening tours and staff surveys are a start — but the most underutilized asset in any school district is the students themselves. Building formal structures for student feedback isn't a nice-to-have; it's how you close the gap between what adults assume and what kids actually need. Community investment follows community trust: A $30 million bond doesn't pass because the superintendent asked nicely. It passes because 45 community members spent three months understanding exactly where the district stood and where it could go — and then became its biggest advocates. About Chris Mason: Christopher "Chris" Mason serves as Superintendent of Quitman ISD, where he leads with a steady focus on student outcomes, fiscal stewardship, and community trust. With 22 years in public education—10 years as a teacher and coach and 12 years in campus and district administration—Chris brings a practitioner's mindset to executive leadership. His experience in the classroom and on the field continues to shape his belief in visible leadership, strong culture, and high expectations for both students and staff. In May 2025, Chris led the successful passage of a $30 million bond, reflecting the community's confidence in the district's direction and its long-term facilities vision. The bond initiative focused on strengthening infrastructure, enhancing student learning environments, and positioning Quitman ISD for sustainable growth while maintaining responsible financial oversight. Throughout his career, Chris has been known for clear communication, data-informed decision-making, and a commitment to developing leaders at every level of the organization. He prioritizes relationships with teachers, families, and community stakeholders, understanding that strong schools are built through shared ownership and trust. Under his leadership, Quitman ISD remains committed to its vision: educating every child, every chance, every day." LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-mason-8b0815230/ 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 312 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/ Want to be a Guest Speaker? Request on our website