This Educational Life
Welcome to This Educational Life by Trane, a podcast that explores the challenges and triumphs of Superintendents and educators in K-12 education. A school is more than just four walls and a roof – it’s an impactful learning tool for students. Taking on the challenge of improving educational facilities today and leaving them better is no easy task, that’s why we’re putting together a blueprint for the school of tomorrow. We're looking at pioneering school districts who transform school buildings with sustainable, green solutions, saving millions of dollars through more energy-efficient infrastructure. All the while giving students access to new s...
Classroom to Career: Connecting Students with Real-World STEM Opportunities
What's it really like teaching science in a rapidly changing world? What happens when technology evolves faster than the curriculum? And how can teachers bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world STEM careers?
In today’s episode of This Educational Life, host Mariah Presley, Industry and Programs Lead at Trane, sits down with Adam Krug, a high school chemistry teacher in Kansas who swapped the lab coat for the classroom almost two decades ago. Today, Adam’s challenge is about preparing students for careers many haven't even imagined yet, and how industry collaborations can help reconnect stud...
Powering Up Rural America: Education & Industry Unite
Across America, rural and small-town communities are foundational to the national identity, rich in heritage and resilience. But as educational needs evolve, many of these communities grapple with unique challenges - from limited career visibility for students to maintaining school infrastructure. How can education play a transformative role in celebrating rural strengths and creating equal opportunities?
In this episode of This Educational Life, Mariah Presley, Education and Industry Programs Leader at Trane, speaks with rural education advocates David Ardrey, formerly the Director of the Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools, now the Interim Executive Director...
School Innovation: Strategies for Enhancing Resources & Infrastructure
Budgets are tight, costs are rising, and schools are expected to do more with less. But what if the challenge isn’t just about money, but how it’s used?
In this episode of This Educational Life, host Mariah Presley, Education and Industry Partnerships Leader at Trane, sits down with Dr. Curtis Chesick, Assistant Superintendent of Operations at Ozark Public Schools, to discuss how his district tackled funding challenges head-on. From leveraging federal incentives to creative budgeting strategies, Curtis shares how Ozark transformed aging buildings, optimized energy efficiency, and unlocked unexpected savings, all without brea...
Industry & Schools: A STEM Collaboration
How do you prepare students for jobs that might not exist yet?
In our first episode of This Educational Life, host Mariah Presley, Education and Industry Partnerships Leader at Trane, sits down with Ben Sego, a former NASA engineer turned school board member. Ben brings a unique STEM-focused perspective to education - one shaped by a career spent working on cutting-edge technology for NASA, the U.S. Air Force, and the Navy.
In this episode, we explore:
🔹 Why STEM education isn’t just for engineers, it’s for everyone
🔹 How Ben’s district i...
Introducing “This Educational Life”
Welcome to This Educational Life, a podcast by Trane exploring the biggest challenges in education - and the bold solutions shaping the future.
Hosted by Mariah Presley, we sit down with school leaders, educators, and industry experts to talk funding, facilities, technology, and more. How are schools maximizing resources, improving learning spaces, and preparing students for what’s next? And how can collaborations with industry help?
If you’re a school leader, educator, or just passionate about the future of education, hit play and join us for the conversations shaping This Educational Life.
Brou...
