WAYNESBORO – Mowrey Elementary School of the Waynesboro Area School District has emerged as a significant winner in the KI education learning space design competition. The school’s media specialist, Jennifer Smith, and the district’s Instructional Technology Specialist, Keith McCray, were instrumental in creating the winning design. The achievement was made possible by the overwhelming support from the school personnel, families, and the broader community, demonstrating the power of teamwork in creating innovative opportunities for learners.
The design, which received more than 12,000 votes, was inspired by the observation of students’ preferences for comfortable and flexible learning spaces. Smith and McCray aimed to create a “coffee shop style” environment that would cater to the students’ tendency to work in comfortable nooks and crannies with their peers. McCray noted that the redesigned space is intended to make students more comfortable, thereby encouraging them to read more and engage in more challenging books.
The competition, organized by KI, a furniture company, invited educators to design their ideal learning spaces. After a rigorous selection process involving 62,000 votes, Mowrey Elementary School emerged as one of the four winners, each of whom will receive $40,000 worth of furniture to bring their designs to life.
This victory is a testament to the innovative and student-centered approach taken by educators in the Waynesboro Area School District. It underscores the adage, “Teamwork Makes the Dream Work,” and serves as an inspiration for other schools to create learning spaces that cater to the diverse needs and preferences of their students.
