Voices from the field
National Center on School Infrastructure (NCSI)
As Assistant Director of Planning, Engineering, Sustainability, and Environment for Boston Public Schools (BPS), Katherine H. Walsh operates at the intersection of aging infrastructure, political complexity, and bold innovation.
Voices from the field
National Center on School Infrastructure (NCSI)
In a small office tucked inside Utah’s State Board of Education (USBE), one person - Dean Dykstra, Utah’s School Construction and Facilities Specialist - is responsible for the long-term health, safety, and construction compliance of over 1,000 public school buildings across 43 school districts and 140 charter schools statewide.
Voices from the field
National Center on School Infrastructure (NCSI)
For economist Julien Lafortune, school facilities are not just bricks and mortar. They are foundational to how students experience school, how communities value education, and how improved educational outcomes can be achieved.
Voices from the field
National Center on School Infrastructure (NCSI)
William Merritt IV has been with Jackson Public Schools for 22 years. As Chief of Staff, he stands at the intersection of leadership, logistics, and long-term vision for the district. With roughly 18,000 students and over 30 school buildings — many of which are more than 65 years old — Merritt is leading conversations that…
Voices from the field
National Center on School Infrastructure (NCSI)
In the small community of Belvidere, Illinois, Jo Ann Armstrong is redefining what it means to lead a school district. As the Chief Financial and Operations Officer for District 100, Armstrong wears many hats—and has taken on the challenge of transforming aging facility infrastructure, outdated school design, and inequitable access into an opportunity for meaningful…
Voices from the field
National Center on School Infrastructure (NCSI)
Tyler Puls is proof that smart budgeting and sustainability go hand in hand. As the Energy and Environmental Specialist at Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS), he’s been helping the district save energy, cut costs, and create healthier, more comfortable learning environments for over a decade.
Voices from the field
National Center on School Infrastructure (NCSI)
As Director of Sustainability at Austin Independent School District (AISD), Darien Clary has spent nearly a decade building a program that embeds sustainability deep into the heart of a major urban school district.
Voices from the field
National Center on School Infrastructure (NCSI)
From the classrooms of western Virginia to the state capitol in Richmond, Superintendent Keith Perrigan is leading with urgency, creativity, and resolve. His work is a testament to what can happen when local leaders join forces, advocate boldly, and refuse to let rural communities be left behind.
Voices from the field
National Center on School Infrastructure (NCSI)
Darnell Deans is proof that the best operations leaders are part visionary, part realist, and all heart. He’s not waiting for perfect conditions—he’s building smarter systems today so that his district can thrive tomorrow.