Case Studies K-12 Education

On a humid South Carolina afternoon, Stephen Taylor sat in a school board meeting and watched a group of high schoolers take the stage to be recognized for their accomplishments. To most in the room, it was simply a nice moment on the agenda. To Taylor, it was the entire point of his job. As […]

When one superintendent joked that he wanted his building back after seeing how Acceleration Academies transformed one of the district’s former facilities, Dan Miller knew he had done something right. The space, which used to house a previous district partnership, now boasts inviting, brightly colored walls, comfortable seating arrangements and modern finishes, making the facility […]

Aaron DiBucci did not begin his professional life in public education. His early career was built in the private sector, where sales targets, international travel, and operational scale defined success. Today, as director of facilities and properties for Port Clinton City School District, his focus is measured differently. It is seen in clean hallways before […]

Before Daniel Derrick ever managed a stadium project or supervised a synthetic turf conversion, he was the guy behind the drum kit. He has been playing for more than 20 years, gigging with a cover band that swings between Hank Williams Jr. and Charlie Daniels and anywhere else the setlist takes them. It is an […]

Rory Salimbene built a career defined by scale, discipline, and a consistent focus on serving communities through infrastructure. As the recently retired chief facilities officer for Orange County Public Schools, he closed out nearly five decades in public service with a portfolio that touched one of the largest and most complex school systems in the […]

Adam Dutter did not set out to build a career in public education. His path into school construction came through the private sector, hospitality, and retail, shaped by years of managing complex facilities and capital projects long before he ever stepped onto a school campus as an owner’s representative. Today, as director of construction for […]

David Scarmardo understands that a school district’s most important work often happens quietly. Classrooms open on time. Floors shine. Heating systems run through cold Midwest mornings. Technology connects instantly for students who arrive with Chromebooks rather than notebooks. None of this happens by accident. It is the product of planning, maintenance, and coordination that begins […]

Joshua Ekstrom understands facilities in a way that cannot be taught in a classroom or learned from a distance. His leadership is rooted in lived experience, shaped by years spent in the day-to-day realities of school operations, and refined through a steady commitment to doing the work the right way. At Valley Park School District, […]

In the Elgin Independent School District, the mission to support student success extends far beyond instruction. It is embedded in every operational decision, every new facility, and every long-term plan designed for a community that has become one of the fastest-growing regions in Central Texas. Located roughly 22 miles east of Austin, Elgin ISD spans […]

Jeff Unger did not expect his facilities career to unfold across shifting organizational landscapes, growing regional footprints, and buildings that range from modern expansions to structures more than a century old. Yet that is the scope of his work today as senior director of facilities for River Crossing YMCA, the association created from a series […]