February 2015 Program - The Future of K-12 Educational Design | Customized Learning Environments

The Future of Educational Design | Customized Learning Environments

Trends in education are leading us to a “customized” student experience. We are going to take a look at what those trends are and how they affect design and construction of future schools.

MODERATOR | Roger Leeson, AIA, LEED AP–Client Manager with LaBella Associates, PC

Roger is a manager and lead architect for LaBella Associates Architects. For thirty years, he has designed and managed public projects including K-12 school facilities, higher education, and civic buildings.  Rogers’s numerous public school designs have helped shape the education of over 50,000 students each year in North Carolina.  His current interests include reshaping classroom environments to facilitate project-based learning, integrated curriculums and inverted classroom teaching methods. Roger is  an advocate for children’s health exploring initiatives like “The Edible Classroom”, “Walking School Bus”, and “Safe Routes to School”. Finally, he is a member of USGBC and Past President of AIA North Carolina and the North Carolina CEFPI Chapter.

PANELIST | Nancy Sturm- Principal Consultant/Learning Space Consultant with The Sextant Group

Nancy is a nationally-recognized visionary leader in Education Technology with over 30 years of tackling education, technology, and business needs to develop viable, successful, and sustainable solutions. Her career is marked by creating award-winning educational programs and techniques enabling teachers to effectively utilize technology in the classroom to motivate and facilitate student achievement. As a Principal, Nancy leads exploration of contemporary pedagogy; analyzes desired learning outcomes and assists with planning and design of learning spaces aligned with those outcomes; and conducts faculty development workshops.

Nancy became the first Executive Director appointed to the National Board of Challenger Center of Space Science Education. She is also the creator of the professional development model EdVentures in Simulations: A Great START to the 21st Century, enabling teachers nationwide to utilize situated cognition learning environments. Nancy was invited to the White House to personally brief President George W. Bush on successful development and implementation of e-Mission, a first-of-its-kind product providing online space simulation delivered in real time through real-world technology – a program still in use today by students and teachers nationwide.

PANELIST | Dave Burnett – Director of Construction with Cabarrus County Schools

David Burnett currently works as the Director of Construction for Cabarrus County Schools.  He has focused his energies and career on the development, design, construction and operations of educational facilities. Dave has 19 years’ experience in the state system, holds eight years in the private sector and has been involved in, or responsible for well over $1 billion worth of K-12 school construction projects in North Carolina.  During his time in the public sector, Dave has overseen school system facilities departments for both large and medium sized school districts such as Guilford County Schools and Durham Public Schools. His responsibilities traditionally include long-range planning, bond planning, land acquisitions, design oversight, construction management, maintenance, furniture and equipment purchases, and student reassignments.

PANELIST| Jill Thompson – Personalized Learning Program Manager at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

Jill Thompson is a Personalized Learning Program Manager at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in Charlotte, NC.  Personalized Learning is goal one of the districts strategic plan. She manages the instructional shift in CMS that is needed for today's classrooms. Her educational philosophy is to create a positive 21st century learning environment for students; setting the stage for their entire academic life. She believes in building upon a child’s curiosity and encourages them to pursue new knowledge. Jill is globally involved in education in many different ways. She is the co-host of #21stedchat on Twitter, blogs, presents at educational conferences and is an ASCD emerging leader. Jill's background includes teaching fifth grade, a K5 math and science facilitator/coach, Instructional Technology Specialist and is Google Apps and Chrome Qualified. The diversity of the positions has given her the skills and knowledge to draw from when integrating ways to educate 21st century learners through innovative personalized curriculum.

PANELIST| Troy A. Moore – Principal with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

Troy Moore is in his 6th year as Principal of Hawk Ridge Elementary, a Charlotte Mecklenburg School.  Under his leadership Hawk Ridge has been named an NC Honor School of Excellence and with the new NC School Report Card issued last week, the school received the letter grade of A.  Mr. Moore leads an outstanding staff who have moved forward in Personalizing the Learning for students within Math, Literacy and Genius Hour.  This year Hawk Ridge has also implemented an initiative to redesign all learning spaces within the building.  All teachers have redesigned their environments by removing desks and purchasing furniture that encourages comfort and collaboration with classroom parent donations.  Hawk Ridge Elementary has forged partnerships with VS America Furniture to fully incorporate 21st Century educational furniture in a 4th grade classroom and Chili's Restaurants to create a 21st Century Chili's Experiential Environment for college and career ready content integration simulations.

PROGRAM SPONSOR 

If you have any questions, please contact Jen Weaver at 704.941.2103 or [email protected].

Cancellation/Refund Policy
Cancellations made 72-hours prior to the event will receive a refund. Due to our commitment with the meeting facility for food and beverage quantities, all other cancellations or no-shows will be invoiced for the full cost of the event.