When I was younger, I would spend hours designing and creating, using all the tools (and household products) at my disposal to work into that "kid masterpiece" that I knew would eventually "become." There were many drawings (youthfully sophisticated renderings), there was 3-D modeling (at least that's what I refer to it though it lacked all the sophistication of an architect or engineer), and then the tweaking and adjusting of the "finish work" for presentation. I created towering tree forts, multi-dimensional and fantastical worlds of tall buildings and unique structures, countless spaceships of various sizes, and of course one or two "ultimate houses." That creativity was beautiful and unhindered, like the twinkle I see in so many of my students, fresh and optimistic, and it was realized in a way that one of immeasurable youth and boundless vision and inspiration could fully embrace.
Despite my age, I have pursued that "constructivist" within throughout every aspect of my life, whether in university labs/classes, home projects, or work obligations--I have refused to let that creative spark go. Those design principles have continued to live in rehabbed houses, custom chicken coups, and optimized urban educational plans. That creative vision and application have continuously inspired while feeding a zeal for creativity.
Those creations have evolved, gathering both in form and name—to fundamentally become educational "masterplans." Little did I know when I entered my chosen field, there would be that opportunity to design the educational landscape (curriculum and instruction) and shape its physical design in new and innovative ways. For the past ten years in executive leadership, I have supported multi-year visions of educational transformation within a schools' physical plant, from designing 21 century high schools and middle schools, to collaborating on state-of-the-art athletic facilities and STEAM centers. The timing has been perfect and auspicious in fulfilling that part of me, the part cultivated from youth, that yearned to construct and create.
The most recent project was the first step of a multi-year master planning endeavor—a STEAM center. The Center was step one of a grandmaster plan to take a beautiful but severely dated educational landscape and make it worthy of envy amongst even the most modern US schools. Part of that uniqueness was using eco-friendly construction and techniques, colored with a mind for energy and resource conservation. In the end, a modern and efficient multi-story building arose, including redesigned art, science, and math rooms complemented by maker spaces for all grade levels. It was indeed an endeavor that brought together and capitalized on the talents of the entire school community. As it should be...
The following stages in master planing will be equally impressive and ambitious, from modernizing middle school and early elementary rooms to updating the sports facilities to meet the ever-increasing demand for activities. The school has identified and prioritized the needs. It has articulated and embraced the vision of which a process of collaborative creation will be facilitated. It will use it bountiful gifts and talents to realize its dreams.
It took many fruitful discussions to achieve the final product!
In those moments, while wrapping up the fine details of the STEAM center and collaborating on tomorrow's master-planning creative expressions, that I return to those times when younger, where inspiration and boundless opportunity to create the world of tomorrow thrived. It makes me smile...
Boundless creativity (above) in its purest and most beautiful form.
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