What if a school could rebuild not just itself, but the community's trust and identity?
In this episode, Carla Cummins and Nick Marmolejo sit down with Erica Thompson, Business Development professional at Wells Building Systems, to explore how schools serve as the heartbeat of their communities. From her unexpected journey through accounting and Colorado's early marijuana industry to becoming a passionate advocate for K-12 construction, Erica shares how building schools is about far more than bricks and mortar—it's about creating spaces where students discover who they are.
Drawing from her work across Colorado's diverse communities, Erica reveals how the built environment shapes student identity, why schools are "networking machines," and how one Denver neighborhood fought to reclaim their closed high school—and won.
Takeaways:
Teamwork makes the dream work: Radically student-centered design means shifting from "me" to "we"—creating environments where students learn to build their teams and cultivate lifelong relationships
Schools are networking machines: Beyond academics, schools create micro-communities—band kids, athletes, robotics crews—where students form identities and connections that last decades
Research the community, not just the building: Understanding demographics, attending town halls, and reading master plans reveals what each unique community truly needs from their school
Strategic, not sacrifice: When budgets tighten, stay rooted in your district's mission—make strategic decisions rather than compromising what students deserve
Measure success by who comes back: When Montbello High School reopened after a decade, 1,100 of 1,200 freshman seats filled immediately—proof that communities will invest in spaces that invest in them
Design for generations: Today's students become tomorrow's parents and grandparents—build schools that honor the past while serving futures you'll never see
About Erica Thompson:
My career began with an ambitious plan to become a nuclear engineer, which quickly
pivoted (after an honest math check) to accounting. I earned my CPA license at 22 and
began auditing small to mid-sized banks during the very exciting years of 2007 to 2014.
That experience led me into the emerging medical marijuana industry, where I helped
companies create GAAP-compliant accounting practices in a world needing it.
Reconciling cash without banks was as unconventional as it sounds, and it taught me
adaptability, creativity, resilience, and humor.
While entrepreneurship sparked my interest in sales, it was construction manufacturing
that truly shaped my career. I entered the industry as a Sales Representative at General
Shale, where I helped amplify regional brick sales and adopted my guiding motto:
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work. Under the mentorship of Mark Stutz and later Jared
Rabin at Rio Grande, I learned the power of solution-based selling. Shifting from
providing products to solving real problems. These mentorships taught me to build long-
term, developmental relationships, one of which ultimately led me to Wells.
Today, I serve in Business Development at Wells, where I focus on connecting with end
users to gather insights, identify market opportunities, and support strategic growth.
Surrounded by strong leadership, including Dan Parker, I've found my professional
home. This role naturally led me to A4LE and a passion for learning environment
spaces that do far more than house education; they anchor communities, shape
generations, and serve as points of connection. I highlight leadership throughout my
story because my journey has never been just about "me". It's a collective we. None of
this happens alone. Teamwork Makes the Dream Work.
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-thompson-cpa-csi-cdt-141906172/
Learn More About Kay-Twelve:
Website: https://kay-twelve.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kay-twelve-com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kay_twelve/
Episode 307 of the Better Learning Podcast
For more information on our partners:
Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/
Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/
Second Class Foundation - https://secondclassfoundation.org/
EDmarket - https://www.edmarket.org/
Catapult @ Penn GSE - https://catapult.gse.upenn.edu/
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