What if the spaces we design for children today could shape how they learn for a lifetime?

In this episode, Mark Barga sits down with Dr. Greg Taranto, Superintendent of Canon-McMillan School District, to explore what happens when a growing district seizes the opportunity to reimagine elementary education. From an unexpected career pivot out of cardiac rehab to leading one of Pennsylvania's fastest-growing districts, Greg shares how Canon-McMillan is building more than a new school—they're building capacity for full-day kindergarten, balanced classrooms, and a future where every child feels like they belong.

Takeaways:

• Growth is an opportunity, not just a challenge: When your district is expanding rapidly, use construction projects to solve multiple problems at once—new capacity, balanced class sizes, and the launch of full-day kindergarten across the entire district

• Full-day kindergarten must look different than first grade: The extra time isn't about adding more academics—it's about structured play, developmentally appropriate practice, and giving interventions a head start before gaps widen

• Large buildings can still feel small: A "school within a school" neighborhood model ensures that even in a thousand-student facility, every child is known by name and every teacher is part of a tight-knit team

• Invest in teachers because they're "in the game": Administrators support from the sidelines, but teachers are the ones with students every day—involve them from day one on design, furniture, and classroom layout decisions

• Fiscal transparency builds community trust: When you show stakeholders exactly how much you've saved, how much you're borrowing, and what the long-term plan looks like, they see the value—especially once they can walk through the finished building

• Get kids outside and off screens: The research is clear—sunshine, movement, and unstructured play stimulate learning neurons. Outdoor learning spaces aren't a luxury; they're essential to how Canon-McMillan thinks about child development

About Dr. Greg Taranto:

Dr. Greg Taranto is a visionary and results-driven educational leader with

extensive experience in K–12 administration, currently serving as

Superintendent of the Canon-McMillan School District since July 2024. He

holds a Ph.D. in Instructional Management & Leadership from Robert Morris

University (2011), along with multiple master's and bachelor's degrees in

education and exercise physiology.

His 27 year career in education includes roles as Assistant to the

Superintendent, Middle School Principal, Assistant Principal, Teacher and

Coach. He is also an Adjunct Faculty member at Pennwest University,

teaching in Superintendent & Principal Leadership Programs since January

2012.

Dr. Taranto has received numerous accolades, including Pennsylvania

Principal of the Year (2012), Outstanding Research & Publication Award

(2012), and the Frank S. Manchester Journalism Award (2013). He has an

extensive list of publications and professional presentations covering topics

such as structured literacy, social media, leadership, and educational

initiatives.

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 310 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

What happens when you realize education has never really been designed for students?

In this episode, Jeff Kubiak and Carla Cummins sit down with Dr. Kelly May-Vollmar, Superintendent of Desert Sands Unified School District in La Quinta, California. With 34 schools and 27,000 students, Dr. May-Vollmar has built a district culture rooted in student voice, community trust, and relentless accessibility. From volunteering as an art teacher in her daughter's first grade classroom to leading a $675 million bond measure, her journey reflects a simple but radical belief: students deserve a seat at the table.

Takeaways:

• Student voice isn't optional—it's the foundation: From superintendent advisory panels to climate surveys with open-ended questions, Desert Sands builds systems that actively solicit and act on student input—because kids know what authentic work looks like and when adults aren't being transparent

• Trust is built through consistent presence: Attending every PTO and booster meeting, hosting "Coffee with Kelly" events, and sitting in staff lounges during lunch aren't PR tactics—they're how you understand what your community actually needs

• Eliminate barriers, not just friction: Borrowed from the Savannah Bananas' "fans first" philosophy, the district's "students first" framework has staff asking themselves in real time: "Are we creating a barrier? We can't do that."

• Alignment isn't top-down—it's everywhere: Board priorities (academic proficiency, future focus, warm and welcoming environments) cascade through every division, every professional development session, and get reported on quarterly with defined metrics

About Dr. Kelly May-Vollmar:

Kelly May-Vollmar, Ed.D. is the proud Superintendent for Desert Sands Unified School District (DSUSD), serving approximately 27,000 students. Throughout her over 20 years in education Dr. May-Vollmar has held many different roles and served in numerous capacities. Dr. May-Vollmar has served on the CoSN Digital Equity Educator Advisory Panel and is the co-chair of the National Chief Technology Officer Council and the AASA/CoSN Empowered Superintendent's Advisory Committee. She is currently a CoSN Board Member. In 2026 Dr. May-Vollmar was named a Superintendent to Watch by the National School Public Relations Association and in 2025 she was named one of the top 100 Innovators in Education by District Administration. In 2024 Dr. May-Vollmar was honored to receive the DALI Women of Distinction Award and the CalSPRA Superintendent to Watch award. Kelly was also awarded the CA CITE Educational Leader of the Year award in 2019 and the Association of CA School Administrators State Technology Administrator of the year in 2019. She is passionate about bridging the divide that often exists between curriculum and technology departments as well as bridging the digital divide for all students. To this end she is thrilled to have led her district to launch their own LTE Network to address the digital divide and to be awarded the CoSN Digital Equity Award in 2021.

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-may-vollmar-ed-d-ab844678

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 309 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

What if the buildings we design for learning could shape communities for generations?

In this episode, Mark Barga sits down with David Schrader, Principal at Schrader Group (now part of Cord Coplan Macht), to explore what it truly means to design schools that serve as community centers. From an unlikely start designing correctional facilities to walking through Alcatraz with drooped shoulders, David shares how he found his calling in academic design—and why he believes every school should feel like a town green surrounded by spaces where learning happens.

Takeaways:

• Start with the learner, not the line item: When districts lead with conversations about students and learning processes rather than dollars and timelines, you know you're stepping into something transformative
• True partnership means going on the journey together: The best projects span years—sometimes decades—of relationship building, surviving multiple boards and administrations while staying rooted in community values
• Flexibility isn't a buzzword—it's a warehouse mentality: Build simple structural bays where walls can move; combine that with modern furniture, and you've created adaptable environments the fifties never imagined
• Watch how industry thinks about space: The most forward-thinking work environments drip down through higher ed into K-12—and ideally, should start in pre-K and lift with learners throughout their journey
• The best buildings are community centers that happen to teach: Twenty years from now, success isn't about the design holding up—it's whether the building still feels like the heart of its community
• Design for timelessness, not trends: Avoid the puke-green glazed tile of one era or the split-face block and standing seam roofs of another—build something that can't be pinpointed to a decade

About David Schrader:

Principal, Academic Programmer, Planner, and Designer

For 35 years, David's professional experience has been focused on the design of next generation educational facilities. David acts as Principal-in-Charge and leads the design team throughout the project duration to develop and execute design solutions that achieve all client goals.

His ability to create a vision with his clients has fostered significant success for all involved including the client, the design team and the public-at-large. "Partnership in design is key to creating a better designed environment for each client."

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 308 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