When the media center at Sebastian River High School in Vero Beach, Florida, needed a renovation, Kerri Wall went far beyond a new coat of paint.
Wall is the Senior Educational technology Administrator at Sebastian River High School and created a high-tech, cutting-edge learning environment that puts students first. For her efforts, tech & Learning honored her during a recent Regional Leadership Summit with a Innovative Leader Award for the most innovative learning spaces.
The media center update came from the idea of creating a center for students to explore their educational possibilities. The furniture in the media center is movable and can be rearranged to suit the needs of students when necessary. The center houses 3D printers, a cafeteria (students can eat in the space), and seating tables and chairs.
Student contributions made a difference
Student input was critical to Wall's efforts.
“Some of the things they wanted to be able to be there before and after school: they wanted to be able to eat there, they wanted their computers. And they wanted to see other groups. They wanted it to be like a hub,” Walls says. “And then we take those points and then combine them with our representations to show them, 'These are the things you want.' And these are things that we are going to make happen. Then we matched it with the final images and they could see exactly what they asked for.”
Having student input was a major selling point for the usability of the media center. With the ideas implemented from student suggestions, students felt they had a direct impact on their school. “Once you have that input, they are committed, they are with you 100%,” she says.
The students even came up with some innovative ideas.
For example, CTE classes can now be viewed from the media center, giving students a firsthand look at possible options for their career future. This came about because the students wanted to have an almost open-air concept for the space.
The renovated media center represents more than just a stylish space for students to work, Wall says. It represents dedication to the impact students can have on their educational and professional future.
The plan for student advancement and participation
Seeing the success of the space, the student input, and the support of educational leadership coming together to create something innovative, other schools can use this media center as a model for their own renovation projects.
“Leadership and support are important. I would say you have that kind of perfect recipe,” Wall says. “I have friends in other districts who are already expanding and trying some things because they think, 'We can really do this.' “You don't feel like you know much about furniture, but you'd be surprised what a couple of phone calls can happen.”
Wall made a concerted effort to create a comfortable space for students to explore educational options and make decisions about their future. She felt empowered by the overwhelming support she received from her leadership group, as well as the input from students who helped shape the space and make it the ideal environment for learning and growth.
Now that the media center is fully functional, more students have felt empowered to make it their own and use it for various purposes.
Wall had a simple purpose in creating this space: to give students the tools they need to succeed. With this media center, students can thrive in their educational endeavors and other schools have a plan to engage students in their educational future.
