In Part 2 of our two-part podcast, Veronica Niter, Energia's Vice President of Business Development continues her discussion with Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs, Executive Director and CEO of the National School Board Association (NSBA), about some of the steps that school districts and their board members must take to ensure that nearly century old school buildings are renovated in ways that provide safe, equitable learning environments for students.

Among the approaches Verjeana discusses is the importance of fostering local government and public/private partnerships to make collective decisions about the funding necessary to deliver building improvements. She points out that research recognizes the ability for well-designed, well-equipped buildings to benefit both students and educators. She notes that the NSBA encourages school districts to review policies that impact energy usage and savings that can directly support local school districts.

In Part 1 of our two-part podcast, Veronica Niter, Energia's Vice President of Business Development, interviews Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs about her role as Executive Director and CEO of the National School Board Association (NSBA) and the organization’s mission on advocating for public schools and students nationwide.

Verjeana says that “in order to have high performing students, you have got to have high performing adults.” She discusses her vision for the NSBA to become the go-to place for educational outcomes, working with school boards across the country and equipping them to be the best that they can be for their communities. She hopes to ensure that students, no matter their backgrounds or where they live, can benefit from solid educational practices and policies that will impact their lives.

Additionally, Veronica and Verjeana discuss the nation’s aging school buildings and the impact of these facilities – including climate control, lighting, and noise – on students and faculty.

In this episode of Rich School, Poor School, our guest Dr. Dora Renaud discusses the importance of STEM and career pathways for K-12 education. As the CEO of Bossa Ed International, Senior Advisor for Papaya Tutor, and Graduate Faculty for American College of Education, Dr. Renaud brings an experienced perspective on the topic of how a school district's physical infrastructure impacts its ability to deliver an educational or STEM program. As Dr. Renaud says, school districts must be prepared "to address these challenges (investments in the infrastructure, improvements, technology, upgrades, and teacher professional development) that are the essential part of a successful district."

In this episode of Rich School, Poor School, our guest Chris Salley is the immediate past Senior Executive Director of Facilities Services at San Antonio ISD as well as the new Senior Director of Transportation Operations at Atlanta Public Schools. He joins host Kendra McQuilton, CEO of Energia, to discuss setting priorities when it comes to repairing, replacing and upgrading aging facilities. As Chris says, “It's critical that we provide a quality environment for our students and staff and for them to have a positive impact. And that's why I'm so passionate about the impact that we make on a student’s life, because [their facilities] can definitely determine whether that student has an easy time learning or a much more difficult and distracting time learning.”

In this episode of Rich School, Poor School, our guest Machion Jackson, Assistant Superintendent of Operations for Detroit Public Schools Community District, joins host Kendra McQuilton, CEO of Energia, to detail her path from educator to operations manager as well as the challenges she has faced and successes she has achieved along the way. Machion says, "Making the overall learning environment much more enjoyable" for students and staff requires getting creative when it comes to budget and funding challenges.

In this episode of Rich School, Poor School, our guest Willie T. Burroughs, Director of Management Services for the Council of the Great City Schools, joins host Kendra McQuilton, CEO of Energia, to discuss the mission of the Council of Great City Schools and some of the facilities challenges facing urban school districts.

This podcast is sponsored by Energia.