# Can a Docuseries Change the Way Communities Think About School Infrastructure Reform?

By Michael B. Horn · Published 2025-04-28 · Updated 2026-06-08 · Education Technology on MarketScale
Canonical: https://www.marketscale.com/industries/education-technology/storytelling-school-infrastructure-change
Creator hub: The Future of Education with Michael Horn

> Media campaigns are shifting how voters perceive the urgency of crumbling classrooms and aging school facilities

## Key points

- 54% of U.S. public school districts report needing upgrades to key building systems like HVAC, roofing, and structural elements.
- The Second Class Foundation's docuseries 'What We Show Them' uses real school stories to build broad community support for school infrastructure reform.
- Supermajority voting thresholds in some states, like Idaho's two-thirds requirement for school bonds, often prevent communities from securing needed repair funding.

Block Field

School infrastructure in the United States is in a critical condition. According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), an estimated [54% of public school districts](https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-20-494) report needing upgrades or replacements for multiple building systems, such as HVAC, roofing, and structural elements. In a few states (like Idaho), the situation is compounded by laws requiring a [two-thirds supermajority](https://www.propublica.org/article/idaho-resolution-would-lower-voting-threshold-to-pass-school-bonds?utm_source=chatgpt.com) for school bond measures to pass, often leaving communities unable to secure the funding needed for repairs.

> 54% of public school districts report needing upgrades or replacements for multiple building systems, such as HVAC, roofing, and structural elements.

So, how can media and storytelling shift the conversation from supply-side solutions to demand-driven transformation in education, especially when it comes to school infrastructure?

In this episode of [*The Future of Education*](https://marketscale.com/shows/the-future-of-education-with-michael-horn/), host [Michael Horn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelbhorn/) is joined by [**Kevin Stoller**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinstoller/), the CEO of [**Kay-Twelve**](https://www.kay-twelve.com/) and founder of the [**Second Class Foundation**](https://www.secondclassfoundation.org/). Together, they explore how storytelling can fuel grassroots demand for better learning environments—and why the next wave of school change might start on your Netflix queue.

Key takeaways from the episode:

- **Shifting Mindsets Through Space**: Kevin shares his journey from running a school furniture company to realizing that learning spaces shape student engagement, and ultimately, educational outcomes.
- **Extreme Makeover, School Edition**: The Second Class Foundation's new docuseries *What We Show Them* aims to spark change by showing what's possible—and what's broken—through powerful stories of real schools across the country.
- **Changing Perceptions to Create Pressure**: The series targets not just educators, but everyday viewers, aiming to build widespread community support for school transformation by showing what’s missing—and what could be.

> The series targets not just educators, but everyday viewers, aiming to build widespread community support for school transformation by showing what's missing—and what could be.

### About the Speakers

**Kevin Stoller** is a mission-driven entrepreneur dedicated to transforming education through strategic leadership and innovation. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of **Kay-Twelve**, a company that redesigns learning environments, and also serves as Executive Director of the Education Leaders' Organization and Board President of the **Second Class Foundation**, a nonprofit focused on media-driven educational reform. With expertise in business strategy and entrepreneurship, Kevin has built a career at the intersection of design, leadership development, and storytelling in education.

Tags: Kay-Twelve, Kevin Stoller, Public Schools, school bonds, Second Class Foundation, storytelling, What We Show Them

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