School Business Insider

Episode: Powering Learning: Energy Projects as Living Laboratories
Date: January 20, 2026
Host: John Brucato
Guest: Dawn Johnson, Director of Customer Engagement, Opterra Energy Services

Episode Overview

This episode explores the intersection of school operations, sustainability, and student learning. Host John Brucato sits down with Dawn Johnson from Opterra Energy Services to discuss how energy initiatives in schools can be more than just infrastructure upgrades—they can become “living laboratories” that fuel STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) learning, community engagement, and long-term operational transformation. The conversation dives deep into partnership models, real-world project examples, community impact, and the evolving landscape of school energy priorities.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Role of Customer Engagement in K-12 Energy Partnerships

[01:20 – 03:08]

• Dawn’s Role at Opterra: Johnson’s position is a unique hybrid of technical and educational expertise—bridging the gap between infrastructure projects and classroom impact.
  • “It really ties them [energy and infrastructure projects] back to classroom teaching and really back to positively impacting the students in those classrooms.” (Johnson, 01:40)
• Co-Creation Process: Programs are built collaboratively with district and community stakeholders, enabling an evolving, multi-year partnership that adapts to changing priorities.

Long-Term, Adaptive Engagement with School Districts

[03:08 – 05:30]

• Duration and Flexibility: Energy projects typically require multi-year engagement (development, construction, adaptation to evolving needs).
• COVID-19 Response: The partnership model enabled Opterra to pivot rapidly during COVID—developing online resources and distributing learning kits.
  • “We put together hundreds of kits for those students…so that those kids could actually be doing hands-on learning, even though we were all at home.” (Johnson, 04:14)

What Makes School Districts Unique Partners

[05:30 – 07:53]

• School Culture of Collaboration: Teachers are naturally collaborative, making it easier to integrate external partners compared to the private sector.
• Industry as a Bridge: Opterra alleviates some of the extra workload on teachers, offering resources and support so educators can focus on teaching.
  • “If we can come in and really be that connector… it gives time back to the teacher where they can focus on the things that they need to do.” (Johnson, 06:49)

Lowering Barriers to Integrating Energy in Curriculum

[07:53 – 10:48]

• Opt-In Approach: Voluntary participation leads to more engaged teachers and better integration of energy topics.
  • “Our most successful programs are the ones where the teachers want to participate…they are so invested in bringing back these resources to the students.” (Johnson, 08:47)
• Hands-On Support: Opterra provides practical training and dedicated time during school hours, avoiding overburdening staff.

Energy Projects as STEAM Learning Opportunities

[10:48 – 15:25]

• Expanding Access: Programs target rural and underserved communities, offering experiences students may not otherwise access.
• Case Study – Summer of STEM Program:
  • Provided free, inclusive, creative activities (e.g., "marker robots") and included teacher training.
  • Tackled food insecurity by providing meals, creating a safe, engaging environment for students.
  • “When you create this free program, the students are learning… and then you get to feed them breakfast and they get to have lunch…” (Johnson, 14:05)

Community Impact and Positive Feedback

[15:25 – 19:55]

• Multiple Benefits: Beyond infrastructure, programs deliver hands-on internships, address food insecurity, and help repurpose outdated facilities.
• Internship Program: Open to high schoolers, offering both local and remote experiences with industry certifications.
  • “The human impact… and being able to help the students within their community have paid internships, get additional resources, work with that food insecurity… that is really a positive impact…” (Johnson, 18:43)

Influencing Career Trajectories

[19:55 – 22:36]

• Career Pathways: Internships sometimes alter student aspirations while providing real-world experience.
• Alumni Engagement: Some former interns return as mentors, demonstrating lasting impact.
  • “When your kids are coming back and [say] I want to share what I learned…that’s some of the highest value you can kind of get from this.” (Johnson, 21:53)

Regional Differences and Customization

[22:36 – 26:08]

• Resource Constraints: Districts face budget challenges and competition from charter/private schools.
• Infrastructure as a Differentiator: Upgrades and special programming can help public schools stand out.
• Community Engagement Example: Hosting STEM events and translating resources to address community concerns when converting schools to specialized STEM models.

Evolving Energy Needs & Trends

[26:08 – 31:49]

• Rise of Resiliency: Increased focus on backup power (batteries, microgrids) due to grid instability, emergency preparedness, and climate considerations.
• Technology Challenges: District leaders face unfamiliar territory—balancing educational backgrounds with new tech demands.
  • “They’re being faced with things that they didn’t always study in school, especially with the technologies that they’re being asked to look at…” (Johnson, 26:32)
• Battery Storage Adoption: Interest is growing, but implementation depends on local regulations, cost, and available space.

Implementing and Sustaining Energy Projects

[31:49 – 36:56]

• First Step: Audit & Partnership: Begin with an energy audit to assess opportunities, then collaborate with partners (including existing architects/engineers).
  • “Pick a partner. Because once you start to really dive into working together to decide what are your big goals…” (Johnson, 32:44)
• Long-Term Strategy: View energy work as phased, integrated, and responsive to evolving building and instructional needs, not “one and done.”
• Funding and Legislation: Incentives and grants can help drive sustainable changes.

The Future of School Energy Partnerships

[36:56 – 38:45]

• Excitement for the Future: Rapid innovation in technologies and education models, along with increasing collaboration between schools and industries, signals a dynamic and promising path forward.
  • “It’s just an exciting time between technology and education and kind of what education will look like for our students in the future…” (Johnson, 37:58)

Notable Quotes

• “We put together hundreds of kits for those students…so that those kids could actually be doing hands-on learning, even though we were all at home.”
  Dawn Johnson – 04:14

• “If we can come in and really be that connector… it gives time back to the teacher where they can focus on the things that they need to do.”
  Dawn Johnson – 06:49

• “Our most successful programs are the ones where the teachers want to participate…they are so invested in bringing back these resources to the students.”
  Dawn Johnson – 08:47

• “When you create this free program, the students are learning… and then you get to feed them breakfast and they get to have lunch…”
  Dawn Johnson – 14:05

• “The human impact… and being able to help the students within their community have paid internships, get additional resources, work with that food insecurity… that is really a positive impact…”
  Dawn Johnson – 18:43

• “They’re being faced with things that they didn’t always study in school, especially with the technologies that they’re being asked to look at…”
  Dawn Johnson – 26:32

• “It’s just an exciting time between technology and education and kind of what education will look like for our students in the future…”
  Dawn Johnson – 37:58

Key Timestamps

• 01:20 – Opterra’s engagement model and co-creation with districts
• 04:14 – COVID-19 adaptations and hands-on learning kits
• 06:49 – Partnerships easing teachers’ workload
• 08:47 – Importance of opt-in participation for teachers
• 14:05 – Summer of STEM: addressing food insecurity and engagement
• 18:43 – Impact of internships and additional resources on students and families
• 21:53 – Alumni interns returning as mentors
• 26:32 – District leaders’ new tech responsibilities
• 29:09 – Rise of battery storage in energy projects
• 32:44 – Importance of strategic partnerships for energy work
• 37:58 – Dawn’s vision for future school/energy partnerships

Episode Takeaways

• Energy projects can and should be living laboratories, not just infrastructure upgrades.
• Collaboration, flexibility, and community involvement drive successful programs.
• Integrating operational improvements with STEAM learning can support student engagement and open new career pathways.
• Equitable access and attention to broader community needs (like food insecurity) supercharge the impact of energy partnerships.
• Continuous partnership and adaptation are key to sustaining both operational and educational benefits over time.