Latest STEM Academy Designed to Provide Hazleton Area
Students With State-of-the-Art 21st Century Learning
Environment
GREENVILLE, Wis., June 10, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — School Specialty,
Inc. (OTCQB:SCOO) (“School Specialty” or “the Company”), a leading
distributor of innovative and proprietary products, programs and
services to the education marketplace, today announced the successful
completion of the Hazleton Area Academy of Sciences in Drums, PA, which
will serve as the epicenter of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering
and Math) education and 21st Century Learning for students in the
district.
Designed with the future of education in mind, School Specialty’s
Projects by Design (PBD) team worked closely with the Hazleton School
District to build a leadership academy that would foster the growth and
success of students, both today and tomorrow – a cutting-edge facility
that could provide an advanced 21st century educational setting for
STEM learning. Along with the complete redesign, the Hazleton School
District called upon PBD to provide comprehensive furniture and
equipment solutions, and in response, the team utilized School
Specialty’s vast inventory of products for the Academy’s innovative
makeup.
“We chose to partner with PBD and School Specialty as a result of our
past, positive experiences with the team. They have always gone above
and beyond to accommodate our needs with affordable, high-quality
educational products and services,” stated Francis Antonelli,
Superintendent of the Hazleton School District. “It was very important
that we had a shared-vision in the design process to ensure that the
needs of our teachers and students would be met.”
Jamie Kline, Account Manager at School Specialty, commented on the
project, “21st Century Learning is an initiative that seeks to better
prepare our students nationwide for success in college and the
workforce. The initiative focuses on collaborative, project-based
learning, with science education and technology scholarship being
significant elements; PBD looked to design and outfit the Hazleton
Academy from the ground up to fulfill these goals.”
Unique to the Academy’s design is an open floor plan that facilitates
student collaboration and features wide hallways, flexible classrooms
and meeting spaces for group projects. This structure allows students
to function and learn in a relaxed environment, with spaces that are
adaptable for individual, teacher-directed and team-oriented projects.
Additionally, the Academy is equipped with a wide array of flexible,
mobile furniture, including desks, tables and chairs that can be
configured in various ways – promoting learning environments that
change to fit the individual needs of teachers and students. Modern,
soft seating areas provide comfortable spaces for students to complete
group projects, and include technology integration so that students can
use their PCs, tablets, smartphones and other mobile devices.
Tom Casperite, a 35-year F&E Coordinator from School Specialty, added,
“PBD’s furniture and equipment offerings ensure the utilization of
unique settings for everyday learning. We outfitted the Academy
specifically to encourage an environment where our children can
exercise their inventiveness, a key component of 21st Century Learning
that prepares them to be innovative and successful leaders in their
fields and in life as a whole.”
“The PBD services and School Specialty furnishings contribute to an
atmosphere of collegiality, respect and trust. I believe that the new
design and layout of the rooms and spaces at Hazleton Area Academy not
only promote an atmosphere of independence and personal creativity but
also teamwork,” continued Antonelli.
Since officially opening its doors at the start of the 2013-2014 school
year, the Hazleton Area Academy of Sciences is already seeing
resounding success, in terms of response. Faculty, staff, students and
parents have expressed their full satisfaction with the school’s fresh
and pioneering approach to learning. The waiting list for both students
and teachers to join the Academy is extensive, as word has spread that
it offers a more fulfilling learning experience than traditional
schools.
“I have always been pushing for our school and district to be a leader
in STEM education but recognized that we needed a certain kind of
learning environment and tools to achieve this. Our students have a lot
of freedom to express themselves because the new building is so open;
inviting them to work smarter and together more than ever before,”
explained Daniella Zola, Hazleton Area Academy Principal. “The new
facility is designed to optimize space and light, and we have modern
furniture and equipment that leverage the benefits of technology. The
atmosphere is stimulating and comfortable.”
School Specialty’s Kline concluded, “We are extremely pleased that the
new facility has been met with such widespread praise. In addition to
providing products and services, we seek to drive innovation in our
children’s education and prepare them for a global workforce that has
become increasingly competitive. We are very excited that this
philosophy is working so well at the Hazleton Academy and look forward
to the school’s continued growth and success.”
About School Specialty, Inc.
School Specialty is a leading distributor of innovative and proprietary
products, programs and services to the education marketplace. The
Company designs, develops, and provides educators with the latest and
very best school supplies, furniture and both curriculum and
supplemental learning resources. Working in collaboration with
educators, School Specialty reaches beyond the scope of textbooks to
help teachers, guidance counselors and school administrators ensure
that every student reaches his or her full potential. For more
information about School Specialty, visit www.schoolspecialty.com.
