Casey Wright on Mentorship and Modernization: Building Schools for the Future

Quick take

Student voice isn't just nice to have—it's the missing ingredient in creating schools worth showing up for. Casey Wright proves that when you design with students instead of around them, everything from panini lines to classroom layouts becomes a catalyst for engagement.

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🏴‍☠️ BREAKING DOWN THE OLD RULES

In this episode, Casey Wright challenges traditional education paradigms:

Key Insight #1: Students Are Your Best Design Consultants

• What's broken: Adults making assumptions about what students want and need in their learning environment

• The shift: Regularly convening student committees to provide direct input on everything from food service to classroom furniture

• Impact: Higher engagement, better attendance, and solutions that actually work (like shawarma bowls and flexible seating options)

Key Insight #2: Physical Space Shapes Learning Dynamics

• What's broken: Static "lion cage" classrooms with bolted-down furniture that prioritize institutional control over collaborative learning

• The shift: Flexible, mobile furniture and no permanent "front" of the room, allowing fluid movement and dynamic instruction

• Impact: Teachers become facilitators instead of dispensers, students collaborate naturally, and learning becomes interactive

Key Insight #3: Mentorship Multiplies Leadership Impact

• What's broken: Leaders trying to figure everything out alone without seeking wisdom from experienced mentors

• The shift: Building long-term mentoring relationships that focus on caring for people first, competence second

• Impact: Sustained leadership growth, authentic connections with students and staff, and career-long learning partnerships

✌️ YOUR DO SCHOOL DIFFERENT CHALLENGE

Ready to implement these ideas? Start here:

1. Tomorrow: Walk through your building and count how many spaces were designed with student input versus adult assumptions

2. This Month: Convene a student advisory committee to get feedback on one specific aspect of your school experience (food, spaces, policies)

3. This Semester: Pilot flexible learning spaces in 2-3 classrooms, involving both teachers and students in the design process

✅ CONNECT AND CONTINUE

• 🎯 Get the full episode transcript

• 🔗 Follow Casey Wright: Casey is an Associate Principal at Glenbrook South High School in Glenview, Illinois

🤝 TODAY’S RUCKUScast IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:

• ODP Business Solutions: Transforming learning environments isn't just about new furniture—it's about reimagining what's possible when students actually want to show up. For 30 years, ODP has helped schools create spaces that inspire collaboration and innovation.
  🔍 Learn more: here

• IXL: Stop accepting "I taught it, they should have learned it." IXL's adaptive platform identifies knowledge gaps and personalizes instruction so every student actually masters the material. Join over 1 million teachers who use data to drive real learning.
  🔍 Learn more: here

Podcast created by Danny. Audio engineered by Dragan. Show notes written by Christina. Email sent by Soniya