The Future of Schools: Design, Culture, and Impact with Kay Twelve Co-Founder Kevin Stoller

On this episode of Zero to 5000 with host Drew McClure, Kevin Stoller, co-founder of Kay-Twelve, shares his journey from traditional business beginnings to transforming over 700,000 students' learning environments. Kay-Twelve, a Michigan-based company, is a leader in designing active learning spaces, and its mission has landed the company on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies. Kevin delves into the pivotal moment that changed Kay-Twelve’s trajectory from merely selling school furniture to driving cultural shifts in education. He also introduces his nonprofit, Second Class Foundation, and its docuseries, What We Show Them, which seeks to ignite conversations about reshaping education through compelling storytelling. Listeners will gain insights into the challenges of scaling a mission-driven business, the importance of designing engaging classroom spaces, and how tools like EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) have helped Kevin build a successful, scalable organization. Key Takeaways Kay

• Twelve’s Evolution Started as a school furniture business but transformed into a mission-driven organization. Focuses on designing flexible, modern spaces that promote active learning and engagement.
• Transforming Education Traditional classroom models serve a minority of students effectively. Flexible, hands-on learning environments supported by data improve outcomes for students.
• Scaling with Purpose Kevin leveraged EOS tools like accountability charts and prioritization to grow Kay-Twelve effectively. Community support through organizations like EO (Entrepreneurs’ Organization) has been key to overcoming challenges.
• Impact Through Media The docuseries What We Show Them aims to spark national conversations about reimagining education. Storytelling can be a powerful tool to drive societal and cultural change.
• Personal Reflections Kevin’s entrepreneurial journey highlights the importance of aligning passion with purpose, embracing collaboration, and creating systems for sustainable growth.

Notable Quotes

• “We’re not selling furniture; we’re selling a vision for better learning environments for kids and teachers.”
• “Traditional classrooms haven’t evolved in over 150 years—it’s time for a cultural shift.”
• “Entertainment and media have always driven societal change; education is no different.”