How St. Louis Public Schools Saved Millions & Invested in Education

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This Educational Life

Trane

7 episodes

5 months ago

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 skill development opportunities and a safer, more comfortable environment. Get ready for thought-provoking conversations with educational leaders across the country. In this season, we take on the most pressing issues facing K-12 education and explore how innovative solutions are creating better learning environments. We drill into each obstacle, and understand the step-by-step actions taken to overcome it. From decarbonizing school facilities to unlocking thousands in educational grants and utility incentives, we showcase practical, real-world actions that are improving school operations and leaving lasting impacts. Hosted by Mariah Presley, Education and Industry Programs Leader for Trane, Mariah brings a wealth of knowledge and passion for innovation and growth. Each episode features real stories from Superintendents and educational leaders who’ve faced and overcome challenges. You hear how they secured federal grants, improved career pathways in STEM, and created sustainable systems that ensure schools continue to thrive for generations to come. And, we hear directly from the students about how these solutions are shaping their education and opening doors for the future. This Educational Life turns big challenges into practical solutions, offering a blueprint that not only addresses today’s problems but also sets schools up for long-term success. It’s not just about designing the school of the future—it’s about solving problems today so future generations can inherit schools that are better, stronger, and more sustainable. Tune in every two weeks to This Educational Life, where together, we’re creating the schools of the future, today.

All content for This Educational Life is the property of Trane and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

How St. Louis Public Schools Saved Millions & Invested in Education

This Educational Life

23 minutes

5 months ago

How St. Louis Public Schools Saved Millions & Invested in Education

Today on This Educational Life, we're heading to St. Louis, Missouri. Known as the Gateway to the West, St. Louis is a city marked by both a spirit of progress and a history of overcoming significant challenges. However, as today’s episode will show you, with the right collaboration and vision, challenges can also be opportunities to bring about positive lasting change.

Host Mariah Presley is joined by Tracy Hykes, a proud graduate of the St. Louis Public Schools district, former union sheet metal worker, and current St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS) board member, and Jennifer Geen, Senior Account Manager at Trane, who’s worked closely with Tracy and the St Louis Public Schools team on a huge education transformation project.

Together, Tracy and Jennifer discuss how St. Louis Public Schools and Trane are redefining what's possible for nearly 20,000 students, and saving $2.6 million in the process. By introducing industry certifications in skilled trades like HVAC, and leveraging major infrastructure investments to improve learning environments, they're creating pathways for students to secure not just jobs, but “life-sustaining careers”.

Listen to discover:

How Tracy’s journey - from a student unsure of his future to a confident tradesman - reflects the life-changing power of access and mentorship.
Why school districts must innovate to give students not just jobs, but meaningful, prosperous careers.
How strategic collaborations between education and industry can significantly transform both student lives and entire communities.

This is the last episode in season 1! Thank you so much for listening and coming along this journey with us! If you've got an idea for a topic or know an educational leader who exemplifies the resourceful innovation we have featured all season long, let us know. You can drop us an email at thiseducationallife@trane.com, leave us a review on Apple, or a comment on Spotify or Youtube.

Let's continue to challenge what's possible for education, industry, and most importantly, for our students.

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Trane Technologies. Due to the changing nature of this market and our reliance on information provided by outside sources, Trane Technologies makes no warranty or guarantee concerning accuracy or completeness of the content. Trane Technologies has a policy of continuous product and product data improvement and reserves the right to change design and specifications without notice.

This Educational Life