The Ruckus Report Quick take: Student voice isn't just nice to have—it's the missing ingredient in creating schools worth showing up for. Casey Wright proves that when you design with students instead of around them, everything from panini lines to classroom layouts becomes a catalyst for engagement. Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Casey Wright has served as an educational leader in Illinois high school districts for 30 years. He began his career teaching social studies at Rolling Meadows High School while coaching girls track and boys basketball. After spending 12 years at Highland Park High School as an administrator, Casey is currently an Associate Principal at Glenbrook South High School in Glenview, Illinois. With a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from National-Louis University and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Casey is also a member of the Illinois Association of School Business Officials. Breaking Down the Old Rules 🔨 In this episode, Casey Wright challenges traditional education paradigms: Key Insight #1: Students Are Your Best Design Consultants <ul> <li>What's broken: Adults making assumptions about what students want and need in their learning environment</li> <li>The shift: Regularly convening student committees to provide direct input on everything from food service to classroom furniture</li> <li>Impact: Higher engagement, better attendance, and solutions that actually work (like shawarma bowls and flexible seating options)</li> </ul> Key Insight #2: Physical Space Shapes Learning Dynamics <ul> <li>What's broken: Static "lion cage" classrooms with bolted-down furniture that prioritize institutional control over collaborative learning</li> <li>The shift: Flexible, mobile furniture and no permanent "front" of the room, allowing fluid movement and dynamic instruction</li> <li>Impact: Teachers become facilitators instead of dispensers, students collaborate naturally, and learning becomes interactive</li> </ul> Key Insight #3: Mentorship Multiplies Leadership Impact <ul> <li>What's broken: Leaders trying to figure everything out alone without seeking wisdom from experienced mentors</li> <li>The shift: Building long-term mentoring relationships that focus on caring for people first, competence second</li> <li>Impact: Sustained leadership growth, authentic connections with students and staff, and career-long learning partnerships</li> </ul> Quotable Ruckus "Students don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." – Casey Wright Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Walk through your building and count how many spaces were designed with student input versus adult assumptions This Month: Convene a student advisory committee to get feedback on one specific aspect of your school experience (food, spaces, policies) This Semester: Pilot flexible learning spaces in 2-3 classrooms, involving both teachers and students in the design process Connect & Continue 🔗 Follow Casey Wright: Casey is an Associate Principal at Glenbrook South High School in Glenview, Illinois 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — An opportunity to Do School Different 3x a week. Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: <a href= "http://ruckusmakers.news/subscribe">here</a> 🗞️ Read Ruckus Makers — Exclusive content on Substack. Premium leadership insights, AI prompts and custom GPTs, new books before the bookshelf. ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Our private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, AI Prompt Library, and more: <a href= "https://ruckusmakers.club/join">https://ruckusmakers.club/join</a> 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven leadership system (The Ruckus Maker Flywheel) to help you transform your campus: Apply Now Every tool, community, and coaching program we offer is built to help visionary school leaders play the new game — one where leadership is creative, tech-enabled, and unapologetically student-centered. 🎙️ The podcast is your starting point. The movement is just getting started. Today's RUCKUScast in Partnership with: ODP Business Solutions Transforming learning environments isn't just about new furniture—it's about reimagining what's possible when students actually want to show up. For 30 years, ODP has helped schools create spaces that inspire collaboration and innovation. 🔍 Learn more: <a href= "https://www.odpbusiness.com/l/resource-center/blog/full-steam-ahead?utm_source=industrypub&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=nl-na-25%27_brand-2025_awrs_edu_steam_better-leaders_native"> here</a> IXL Stop accepting "I taught it, they should have learned it." IXL's adaptive platform identifies knowledge gaps and personalizes instruction so every student actually masters the material. Join over 1 million teachers who use data to drive real learning. 🔍 Learn more: <a href= "https://ixl.com/leaders">here</a> Twelve Practices LLC © 2025 | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?

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