In this episode, Dr. Corey Murphy , Superintendent of Aiken County Public Schools, and Laura Slagel, project architect from McMillan Pazdan Smith, discuss intricacies of school construction, community inclusion, funding, and equal opportunities for small, rural schools. Dr. Murphy shares advice on balancing differing opinions from community members, students, and school leaders. Learn how strategic use of ESSER funds has made new school construction possible, transforming educational landscapes....
Jul 25, 2024•25 min•Ep 18•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, we learn about Clover School District's journey to a successful school bond referendum. Join us as Dr. Sheila Quinn, Superintendent of Schools, shares insights into the district's response to rapid growth, culminating in a successful voter-approved bond in 2022. Discover how Clover School District navigated challenges, engaged the community, and prioritized strategic planning to meet the evolving needs of their students. From visionary planning to collaborative design, D...
Apr 24, 2024•26 min•Ep 17•Transcript available on Metacast Driving positive change in education is never easy. Whether you're a school superintendent, district leader, or simply passionate about education, the transformative journey of Richland School District 2 offers valuable knowledge and inspiration for any district looking to make improvements that will serve students and teachers for years to come. In our latest episode, we welcome Will Anderson, the Chief Operations Officer for Richland School District 2, who guides us through the complexitie...
Jun 15, 2023•37 min•Ep 16•Transcript available on Metacast The future of schools will be shaped by how they approach the well-being of not only students but teachers and support staff as well. Tune into today's episode as Ben dives deep into the world of mental health and well-being in schools with special guest Sonny Thadani, CEO of Robin, and passionate advocate for mental health in educational settings. After volunteering with Sandy Hook Promise and driven by his personal experience as a father of three, Sonny founded Robin – a school partner tha...
Mar 21, 2023•37 min•Ep 15•Transcript available on Metacast Minta Ferguson is the Director of Planning for McMillan Pazdan Smith Advisors, a division that creates customized, data-driven facility plans that guide construction and renovation projects. How does a team create the best educational environments using data? Join us for this discussion on how data-driven planning can be a valuable resource for determining financial feasibility, optimizing a building's use, efficiency, and more. Have a specific question for Minta's Advisors? Con...
May 03, 2022•29 min•Ep 14•Transcript available on Metacast Education has not always been thought of as an innovative space, but change is on the horizon, sparked by the disruptions of the last few years. Students are required to have a different skill set than previous generations, with technology and collaboration at the forefront of those demands. The education system has faced immense challenges recently, but with those challenges comes a great opportunity to innovate and make an even greater impact on students today. Our guest, Doug Roberts, h...
Apr 13, 2022•33 min•Ep 13•Transcript available on Metacast In this final part of our three-part series on how the Continuum in Lake City, South Carolina is redefining education, we are joined by Harry Lesesne, Executive Director of the Darla Moore Foundation, and around 24:00 by Jeanette Altman , Executive Director of the Continuum. Listeners will learn more about the mission and vision of the Darla Moore Foundation--both with the Continuum and across the region. The reasoning behind the "Continuum" name is also defined, with both guests explainin...
Jan 12, 2022•45 min•Ep 12•Transcript available on Metacast This is Part 2 of our 3-Part mini-series that's an in-depth exploration of the Continuum, a regional training and education center in Lake City, South Carolina. In this episode, host Ben Thompson interviews two Higher Ed leaders to discuss the college and university partnerships that make The Continuum so unique. In the first interview, Ben sits down with Ed Bethea, former interim President of Florence-Darlington Technical College and current Special Assistant to the President . Mr. Bethea has s...
Dec 29, 2021•43 min•Ep 12•Transcript available on Metacast This is Part 1 of a 3-part mini-series on creating innovative educational environments. This series is an in-depth exploration of the Continuum, a regional training and education center in Lake City, South Carolina that provides college and career paths to students while being a local driver of social and economic success. The Continuum is a collaboration between The Darla Moore Foundation, Florence Darlington Technical College, and Francis Marion University. In this first part, host Michelle Sm...
Dec 20, 2021•43 min•Ep 12•Transcript available on Metacast The Anderson Institute of Technology is a high school career and technical education program specifically designed to develop and promote student ownership. It does this in two ways: first, providing relevant programs that are both college and career ready, and secondly, allowing students to take responsibility for their own development; to own their results. It’s through that ownership that graduates from this institution learn skills, confidence, and leadership; and make meaningful impacts as ...
Sep 28, 2021•34 min•Ep 11•Transcript available on Metacast This is very special: for our 10th episode, we are honored to be joined by one of the most effective US Mayors in modern history. Michelle meets with Mayor Joe Riley, who served an incredible ten terms as Mayor of Charleston, South Carolina. In their wide-ranging and inspiring discussion, Mayor Riley opens up about how education functions within the larger community context, what he believes makes great communities, how to achieve excellence in design and city planning, and what has always inspi...
Aug 17, 2021•29 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast Opening up a brand new school building, with new staff, and new students during a pandemic is no easy feat. In this episode, Michelle went back to the school her team designed to speak with Anna Dassing, Principal of newly-opened Lucy G. Beckham High School in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. Helpful insights are shared about the planning process, stakeholder involvement, community buy-in and lots more. Join us for this interesting and timely episode as Beckham sets to open for year two. (Thi...
Aug 10, 2021•34 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast We all know that schools can’t do it all when it comes to providing family-centered opportunities. Identifying the right nonprofits to complement educational programming is another way that educators and community leaders can partner together to address student’s needs and ultimately build stronger communities around the school. In this episode, Michelle speaks with Rev. Bill Stanfield, a Greensboro, NC native who holds a Bachelors Degree in History from the University of North Carolina at...
Jul 13, 2021•36 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast Early Education + Community Building Jasper County’s mission brief is “Student-centered…Future-Focused.” Many schools have similar mission statements, but how does that mission shape planning when you’re running a smaller school district? Programs in early childhood education can help foster community support while proper Capital Improvement planning can turn visions into reality. In this episode, Michelle Smyth talks with Dr. Rechel Anderson, Superintendent of Jasper County Schools in South Car...
Jul 06, 2021•41 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast Ben Thompson introduces new host Michelle Smyth, a practicing K-12 architect for MPS in Charleston, who will be inviting guests to join discussions during the "Summer School Series" of this podcast, premiering July 6th. Stay tuned for more informative episodes coming soon!
Jul 02, 2021•1 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, we welcome back Dr. Russell Booker, our episode one guest, for a fresh discussion about equity. What do you think of when you hear the words equity, equality of outcome, diversity, access, and mobility? We hear these words used in politics, social settings, and in the workplace, but what does 'equity' mean in an educational context? What are the current roadblocks to equity in education? What are some of the misconceptions about how it’s achieved? Is it possible for every ...
May 17, 2021•36 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast Managing Constant Change with Superintendent Joe Pye: How does a school Superintendent stay prepared and resilient in an environment of almost constant change? In this episode, Ben talks to Superintendent Joe Pye, a visionary leader with 48 years of public education service (22 as Superintendent of Dorchester School District 2). The schools in Pye’s district have a reputation for innovation and successful student career outcomes. How does he plan what to budget for? What is his communication sty...
May 11, 2021•39 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast What’s your reaction when talking about funding for K-12 public education? Every year Americans provide around 700 billion dollars in tax revenue to fund 56 million students in 84,000 public K-12 schools across this nation. Schools have multiple revenue sources from federal and state sources. Are we utilizing those dollars to their highest potential in education? In this episode, Ben talks with Mellanie Jinnette, CFO of the school district in Chester County. Mrs. Jinnette also served in the SC D...
May 04, 2021•33 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast "Schools have the largest opportunity to help children be successful,” says guest Jennifer Parker, Ph.D, LPC. K-12 students are experiencing higher levels of anxiety, depression, and trauma than ever before. The need for school mental health resources is more urgent than ever and not just from counselors, it takes a whole-school approach to effectively address student mental health. As the Director of Child, Youth and Family Initiatives for the Spartanburg Academic Movement (SAM), Parker talks f...
Apr 27, 2021•33 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast Mcmillan Pazdan Smith presents IdeaXchange: The Future of K-12 Education Podcast Series There is a clear relationship between a positive school culture and a potentially higher level of school safety. A well-designed school makes the environment safe without making it look like a fortification. In this episode, Dr. Joanne Avery brings her wealth of experience as a former Superintendent to the issue of school safety. Dr. Avery led her district through the aftermath of a fatal school shooting and ...
Apr 20, 2021•41 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast Mcmillan Pazdan Smith presents IdeaXchange: The Future of K-12 Education Podcast Series The COVID-19 pandemic has not only created a health crisis but an education crisis as well. For schools to be fully prepared to “return to learn” strategic plans must be in place. Ben Thompson welcomes Dr. Russell Booker, former Superintendent for Spartanburg School District Seven, to share his insights and tips to help educators form a successful academic plan for the upcoming school year and beyond. One Aco...
Apr 20, 2021•30 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast Ben Thompson is a practicing architect with McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture who leads the firm’s K-12 education work across six offices and three states. As an accredited planner and advocate for student learning, Ben wants to help make a difference in elevating student and school successes. That's why he's inviting you to tune in to this new series where he'll be talking to some of the most experienced and insightful people working in education today. These subject matter experts all h...
Apr 05, 2021•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
