Get Smart

A SERIES OF
CONVERSATIONS
with K-12 industry experts​

  

Get Smart on How to use Energy Contracting to your School’s Advantage

EPISODE 1

Get Smart on How to use Energy Contracting to your School’s Advantage

September 15, 2021 at 2:00 PM EST
Panelist:
Tim Unruh, PhD
, Executive Director, National Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO)

What is your school system doing to take advantage of energy saving opportunities? During this episode of our "Get Smart" series, we sit down with Tim Unruh to discuss how your school system can partner with an energy services company to achieve energy savings. We also examine the federal stimulus packages and explore how schools can leverage their funds for infrastructure improvements. We wrap our discussion with a conversation on renewable energy sources for the education market. 

  

Get Smart on The State of the Schools: America's K–12 Facilities

EPISODE 2

Get Smart on The State of the Schools: America's K–12 Facilities

September 29, 2021 at 2:00 PM EST
Panelists: 
Mary Filardo
, Executive Director, 21st Century School Fund
Rachel Hodgdon
, President & CEO, International WELL Building Institute (IWBI)

The research is in: There is a $85B investment gap1 in public school infrastructure that is impacting our students and our communities. Join us for this episode of our "Get Smart" series as we sit down with Rachel Hodgdon and Mary Filardo to discuss the state of America's schools.

  

Get Smart on Technical Career Pathways for Students: Industry and Education Partnerships

EPISODE 3

Get Smart on Technical Career Pathways for Students: Industry and Education Partnerships

October 13, 2021 at 2:00 PM EST
Panelists: 
G.A. Buie
, Executive Director, United Schools Administrators of KS & KS School Superintendents Association
Roger Tadajewski
, Executive Director, National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3)

Industry and community partnerships are critical to the success of students in career technical education (CTE) programs. During this episode of Trane's "Get Smart" series, we are joined by Roger Tadajewski and G.A. Buie. We discuss ways to build and strengthen your school's CTE program, how to open opportunities for career exploration, and where business and industry can make an impact on your students' future.

  

Get Smart on Efficient and Healthy Schools from Research to Practice

EPISODE 4

Get Smart on Efficient and Healthy Schools from Research to Practice

October 27, 2021 at 2:00 PM EST
Panelists:
Wanyu Rengie Chan, PhD
, Research Scientist, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Anisa Heming
, Director, Center for Green Schools at the US Green Building Council

"Maintaining proper ventilation and good indoor air quality are vital in keeping school buildings healthy and operating as energy efficiently as possible."2 Join us for this episode of our "Get Smart" series, as we explore the challenges and solutions to facilitate a more confident return to the classroom. We sit down with Anisa Heming and Rengie Chan to discuss indoor air quality measures and building design guidelines -- and how federal stimulus funding can play a role.

  

tc-GetSmart-LandingPage-Panelist-Ep-5.jpg

EPISODE 5

Get Smart on Creating Productive Learning Environments

November 10, 2021 at 2:00 PM EST
Panelists: 
David Euscher
, Vice President & Interior Design Studio Leader, Corgan
Sangeetha Karthik
, Associate Principal, Corgan
AJ Sustaita
, Vice President, Corgan

Productive learning environments are key to students' success. During this episode of "Get Smart" we are joined by David Euscher, Sangeetha Karthik and AJ Sustaita from Corgan, a leading architect and design firm with a strong education track record.  We discuss how to achieve a productive learning environment and the impact it has on students and teachers. We also dive into K-12 design trends including net zero schools. 

MEET OUR PANELISTS

Get Smart on How to Use Energy Contracting to Your School’s Advantage

  • Tim Unruh, PhD

    Tim Unruh, PhD

    Executive Director, National Association of Energy Service Companies

    Dr. Unruh is the Executive Director of the National Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO). In this role, he manages the representation of its member Energy Service Companies. During his career, Dr. Unruh has successfully led energy savings projects, managed the nation’s renewable power research and overseen the implementation of energy efficiency and sustainability policies.

Get Smart on the State of the Schools: America's K-12 Facilities

  • Mary Filardo

    Mary Filardo

    Executive Director, 21st Century School Fund

    Mary Filardo is the Executive Director of the 21st Century School Fund and founded the [Re]Build America’s School Infrastructure Coalition. She is a leading national authority and advocate for improving the equity, efficiency, and quality of public-school buildings and grounds. Mary has extensively researched public school facility policy and spending and collaborated with local and state communities on effective long-range facilities master planning.

  • Rachel Hodgdon

    Rachel Hodgdon

    President & CEO, International WELL Building Institute

    As the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) CEO, Rachel works to advance human health through better buildings and more vibrant communities. Prior to joining IWBI, Rachel founded the Center for Green Schools at USGBC, which mobilized $275B+ investments in LEED-certified educational facilities, deployed 750,000+ volunteers in 73 countries to transform schools on every continent, and published 1,000+ pages of technical guides and original research.

Get Smart on Technical Career Pathways for Students: Industry and Education Partnerships

  • G.A. Buie

    G.A. Buie

    Executive Director, US Administrators of KS and KSSA

    G.A. Buie is the Executive Director for the United School Administrators of Kansas and Kansas School Superintendents’ Association (KSSA). During his 30-year career in education, G.A. has served as an educator, assistant principal, and principal. GA was honored as the Kansas Principal of the Year in 2005 and began serving on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Secondary School Principals in 2009 and was elected as Board President in 2013.

  • Roger Tadajewski

    Roger Tadajewski

    Executive Director, National Coalition of Certification Centers

    Roger Tadajewski is the Executive Director of the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3), which targets the advancement of standardized certifications developed in partnership with industry and educational leaders in the transportation, aviation, manufacturing, welding, building trades, energy, health & safety, and STEM sectors.

Get Smart on Efficient and Healthy Schools from Research to Practice

  • Wanyu Rengie Chan, PhD

    Wanyu Rengie Chan, PhD

    Research Scientist, Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory

    Dr. Rengie Chan is a Research Scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Her work focuses on characterizing IAQ and its implications to human exposures in residential and commercial buildings. She recently completed a collaborative research project studying IAQ and ventilation in California classrooms. Dr. Chan leads the Efficient Healthy Schools Campaign sponsored by the Department of Energy and manages the iaqscience website.

  • Anisa Heming

    Director, Center for Green Schools at USGBC

    Anisa Heming is Director of the Center for Green Schools at the US Green Building Council and one of the nation’s foremost experts on green schools. She provides strategic direction to USGBC’s work in schools. She coordinates an organization-wide team to promote environmental sustainability, health and wellness, and sustainability literacy in school systems worldwide.

Get Smart on Creating Productive Learning Environments

  • David Euscher

    David Euscher

    Vice President, Corgan

    David is a Vice President and Interior Design Studio Leader in the Houston office of Corgan, a leading global architecture and interior design firm. He is currently serving as the Director at Large for the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) National Board. David has led a broad range of interior architecture projects across the United States and around the world.

  • Sangeetha Karthik

    Sangeetha Karthik

    Associate Principal, Corgan

    Sangeetha is an Associate Principal at Corgan and thought leader in education environments. Sangeetha’s 21 years of experience is focused on education architecture. She has done extensive research on planning for the future through project‑based learning environments. She excels in creating spaces that mimic the real‑world, push collaboration, and are student‑driven to foster engaged, self‑directed learners that are aptly prepared for their future careers.

  • AJ Sustaita

    AJ Sustaita

    Vice President, Corgan

    AJ is a Vice President at Corgan and has 20+ years of experience in architecture leading design, documentation, and construction administration on a wide variety of project types including renovation and sustainable design. Currently he serves as the President-Elect of the Houston chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Recently, he was honored with the Ben Brewer Award from AIAH, which recognizes excellence in ability and contributions to architecture in Houston.

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