Educational Dealer October 2023

Alone Together

by Kevin Fahy

In our last issue, I announced my retirement. For those of you who neglected to read the fine print, I will continue to write this column for the time being, or at least for as long as I seem to be making sense.

I’d like to thank everyone who wrote to me to extend their congratulations, some of which we published in the August issue. It meant a lot to me, and I hope that “we’ll meet again, don’t know where, don’t know when.”

Most of the people who responded were near retirement age themselves. That could be due to them having known me or read my column for a long time, but I think it also reflects a real concern among people of a certain age regarding the mechanics of retirement. We work all through our adult lives to achieve something, only to arrive at a point where we abruptly walk away from it.

So this is my first report from the other side, but I’m afraid I can’t give you any brilliant insight into your future. Retirement is what you make it, and thus far I haven’t made very much of it. It’s not like I’m suddenly free to pursue my dream of achieving world peace or finding life on other planets.

Being a list maker, I actually sat down a number of years ago and made a list of the things I would do in retirement, like play tennis and golf, work on the lawn, walk the dog, etc. They were all things I was doing already, but thought I would do more. In reality I do them less, because I have less energy now than I did back when I made the list, and probably should have included things like reading books, watching old movies and enjoying cold beverages.

Speaking of making lists, that’s a skill that comes in very handy in retirement, where every day is essentially Saturday, and it’s easy to do nothing if you don’t have a plan. Just like in your business career, the plan needs to be in furtherance of a specific goal, and the first step is to clearly define that goal.

But let me back up a little bit. Before you start setting goals, I would suggest that you have a long conversation with yourself, and possibly others, about your identity. We have a tendency in this country to define people, especially men, according to what they do for a living. It’s the first question we ask when we make a new acquaintance, and in many cases, we even attach one’s occupation to one’s name.

Someday that’s going to change, and at that point you will get to decide what you are. Is it an ex-something or a current something else?

When I was a kid, it was typical for little boys to be fascinated with what their fathers had done “during the war.” Virtually all our fathers had been soldiers or sailors, and whatever they had done seemed to us virtuous or heroic.

During the war they had been defined by the rank attached to their names, but afterwards they had very abruptly been expected to become someone else entirely. I often think about how difficult that must have been, and that some of them may never quite have accomplished it.

Unlike our fathers, most of my generation did not become soldiers, for reasons I won’t get into here. What many of us did become was entrepreneurs, in numbers never seen before. From Bill Gates to Steve Jobs to your local

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retailers and contractors, we boomers were quick to strike out on our own, hang up a shingle and take our chances.

I think part of the reason for that spirit was a reaction to the regimentation and conformity of our parents, and part of it was a sort of self-fulfilling prophesy based on our own massive numbers. We were a rising tide that lifted all boats, or at least a lot of them.

To be frank, I also think we have to acknowledge that materialism had something to do with it. We were driven to make a lot of money because we wanted to buy a lot of things.

At any rate, I was identified by occupation as an editor or publisher, but I always self-identified as an entrepreneur, and as such I have felt a real kinship with those of you who started up or acquired a business in the school supply industry. We were part of a great flowering of commerce, both within the industry and within the U.S. economy as a whole.

These days, whenever someone asks me what I do, I simply reply that I’m retired, which gives that person the option of asking for more information, or not. It has come as something of a surprise to me that most people have expressed quite a bit of interest in the details of my career, and much greater surprise that the degree of interest has seemed highest among young people. I guess I expected them to be more interested in high technology than oldschool capitalism.

At the risk of over-reading their curiosity (maybe they’re just being polite), what I’m gathering is that college-age kids are taking a personal interest in learning how to go about starting up a new business. In other words, they at least want to consider the idea of trying it themselves. That would be an inclination I haven’t seen much of in the last couple of generations.

My perception is backed up by research. According to a study of 1,000 Gen Zers (age 18 to 25) conducted in July by ZenBusiness, they are the most entrepreneurial generation to date. Eighty-four percent chose entrepreneurship as the most exciting of

12 career options, and 75 percent want ultimately to own their own business. Those are the highest such numbers since the Great Depression.

So I am happy to tell young people my own start-up story, which I think is fairly typical. We started out as a partnership between two people who had worked together at a large publisher, with my partner handling sales and accounting while I covered editorial and manufacturing.

That happens a lot in publishing, resulting in such familiar names as Simon and Schuster, McGraw Hill and Prentice Hall. It happens a lot in other businesses, too, like, say, teacher stores. One partner might have a retail background, while the other might know a lot about teaching aids and school supplies.

I also tell them that all partnerships will eventually fail. There are numerous reasons for that, but in many cases I think that they simply become victims

of their own success. As a business grows, it hires more and more people to fill specific roles, making the partners less dependent on each other.

That’s no reason to go it alone, but only to keep one’s eyes open. My own partnership had its ups and downs, but I have no regrets on that score.

Just one other thing. I hear a lot of talk these days about who “built America,” and while I have no desire to get into a political discussion, that’s not a topic I can ignore.

America wasn’t built by a person or a group of people. It was built by free enterprise, and the extent to which we have managed to extend that system to everyone.

Publisher J. Kevin Fahy kfahy@fwpi.com

Editorial Director Victoria Ritter victoria@fwpi.com

Assistant Editor Tina Manzer tmanzer@fwpi.com

Graphic Artist Maia VanOrman maia@fwpi.com

Graphic Artist Tammy Spear tammy@fwpi.com

Advertising Director Tim Braden tbraden@fwpi.com

Ad Sales Representative Darlene Ryan darlene@fwpi.com

Enewsletter & Online Advertising Manager Rick Kauder rkauder@fwpi.com

Production Manager Mark Stash mstash@fwpi.com

Accounts Payable Missy Kelly accounts@fwpi.com Subscriptions accounts@fwpi.com

Editorial Offices 171 Reed Street Geneva, NY 14456 800-344-0559

Sharp School Services Keeps Classrooms Looking Sharp

by Victoria Ritter

When David Sharp and his wife Martha founded Sharp School Services in Hobart, IN in 1989, they knew they were taking a chance. Nearly 35 years ago, their work has paid off as they have become a trusted resource for educational supplies and furniture.

The Sharps were contemplating a career change when long-time family friend Jake Stephic mentioned he was putting his business, Stephic School Services, up for sale. The school supply store had been in business since 1976 and Stephic was looking forward to retirement.

While Martha was a first grade teacher, Sharp had limited business experience; he was working at a chemical company and had a biology degree when Stephic presented the opportunity. However, the couple was confident they could succeed, as they had a good customer base for furniture

sales, a thriving retail store, mentoring from Stephic and an experienced workforce.

Sharp credits his entrepreneurial spirit to his exposure to his father’s veterinary practice. “I realized later that it wasn’t the science that I enjoyed about working in his practice,” he recalled. “It was the customer interaction and the small business atmosphere.”

Today, business is going great, according to Sharp. In addition to schools and educational institutions, Sharp School Services caters to hospitals, restaurants, retirement communities and more. It attends several educational shows including EDspaces, We Connect, ACD Games Day and Chicago Toy & Game Fair.

“Our retail store continues to provide an outstanding value for our surrounding community,” Sharp said. “Our school furniture and equipment efforts have continued to grow

throughout the state of Indiana.”

Building on the past

Prior to being a school supply store, the 4,000-square-foot building used to be a corner grocery store. The Sharps have made use of the retail space in addition to a 2,500-square-foot house at the back which serves as storage, offices and a warehouse.

“It’s not huge, but we use every square inch and try to be efficient with our use of the space,” Sharp said. “We’ve always had the brick-and-mortar store. It makes us a complete, full-line company for our school customers.”

When Sharp School Services began operating, it was staffed by five people. Today, it employs 21 full-time and parttime staff members.

The workforce increases by about 15 part-time employees in the summer. In the warmer months, Sharp hires high school and college students to

help deliver items to schools and install furniture. “We’re fortunate that some of these young men and women can start with us in high school and keep coming back every summer through college,” Sharp said. “It’s a fun time of year. They’re a fun group.”

A mixture of products

There are more than 6,500 SKUs in the store, encompassing “everything a teacher would need to run a K-8 classroom,” said Sharp. He went on to describe the inventory as “educational eclectic,” with products including office supplies, puzzles, puppets and games. Brands include Eureka, Creative Teaching Press, Teacher Created Resources and Scholastic, among others.

“We focus on quality products that will generate the most education impact on students,” Sharp said. “We’re looking to fill any niche we can that fits within our general overriding principle of providing the best educational products to as many people as possible.”

The popularity of certain products fluctuates with certain periods. During the back-to-school season, the vast majority of in-store sales are decorative items for classrooms. The holidays herald an increased interest in gifts such as puzzles, games and active play products.

Vendors, sales reps, educators, customers and kids of employees keep Sharp and his team abreast of what is trending. In his 34 years of running the business, Sharp has seen several trends come and go. A current focus is on collaborative and flexible classrooms, in addition to ergonomics and choice seating, according to Sharp.

“We started with duplicator books and are now moving everything to a digital format!” he exclaimed. “A warm, inviting classroom decorated with a theme – but not too distracting to students – will remain the strongest trend.

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Martha and David Sharp, owners of Sharp School Services in Hobart, IN.

Simplifying Back to School

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Our customers do a terrific job combining multiple products in our store to achieve this result.”

However, the majority of Sharp School Services’ revenue comes from furniture sales. The business provides student desks and chairs, teacher and office furniture, cafeteria tables, media centers, markerboards and tackboards. It features brands such as Jonti-Craft, VS America, AmTab and Fomcore. “We have also begun to provide some furniture for home offices, home schooling and pre-schools through our retail store,” Sharp said.

Sharp School Services provides furniture to the whole state of Indiana with a team of six representatives and an installation crew. Meanwhile, its school supplies are distributed primarily around the northwest corner of the state.

Catering to customers

Customers of different demographics rely on Sharp School Services, including parents, grandparents and home schoolers. Teachers constitute the largest group that does business with the store. “Just like our product mix, our customer base is a bit eclectic,” Sharp said.

“We also learned this is a great industry in which to be involved,” he added. “Customers are knowledgeable, professional and most often optimistic happy people.”

While in-store traffic outpaces the business’s online traffic, office supply sales are driven almost completely by sales flyer orders, Sharp reported. The Sharps began the sales flyer program several years ago when they realized how much work school secretaries put into coordinating supplies for teachers.

Through sales flyers, the Sharps provide an eight-page list of commonly-needed items at discounted prices. Outside reps distribute the list to schools, which send it back with the orders, detailing to which teachers or grades the supplies go. The items are then shipped to the schools,

with everything pre-packaged according to the specific classrooms outlined on the form. “The real selling point on it is service,” Sharp said. About 30 to 40 schools participate in the program.

The store participates in area festivals, teacher orientations and school-based occasions via a sales booth. A popular event is Game Night, which the Sharps coordinate with a school or PTO. The Sharp School Services team will set up six to eight sample games in the school cafeteria or media center and teach volunteers how to play. In turn, the volunteers will teach the game to teachers and families; the store will also sell the games. Game Nights act as a fundraiser, as 20 percent of the proceeds go back to the school or educational organization.

“Games are a great learning tool; they have a great value for teaching skills,” Sharp said. “Our goal is to get games into homes and have families interact with each other. It gives something for parents and children to do together that’s both fun and educational.”

At the end of the day, Sharp is all about providing a resource for teachers and parents to make learning fun. “We feel that we are a great resource in the community. Parents and grandparents should always think of their local educational store when looking for birthday gifts and things to get their children. There are so many good tools in our industry that help students learn without them even knowing it.”

EDspaces will take place November 7 to 9 at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, NC. The three-day show will feature educational sessions, multiple networking opportunities, facility tours, an exhibit hall packed with vendors and much more.

Show Director Joe Tucker expects 1,500 attendees and 1,500 exhibitors will be present at this year’s show. “It should be an absolutely fantastic year, probably the largest one we’ve ever had,” Tucker said.

New this year on the show floor is an e-sports studio sponsored by MiEN Environments, located at Booth 778. The engaging gaming lounge will provide demonstrations on how to design an e-sports studio as well as welcome kids to play in the space.

Another new feature this year focuses on career and technical education (CTE). The American Institute of Architects’ Committee on Architecture for Education will present on the theory of CTE at Booth 2265. Next door at Booth 2177, people will have a chance to explore a robotics lab at the CTE Robotic Learning Lab sponsored by TMP Architecture. “CTE has been growing over time,” Tucker

observed. “We’ve seen more and more school districts establish schools that provide classes for welding, electrical and more career tech.”

Get in the game with EDchannels Symposium

The half-day pre-conference will take place 1 to 5 p.m. on November 6, open to distributors, suppliers and independent manufacturer’s representatives. The symposium is designed to discuss challenges and opportunities to increase sales and profitability in a hyper-competitive business landscape.

The event will feature a kickoff presentation by Ross Bernstein who will share life lessons of integrity and accountability he learned while working with companies and in the sports field.

Afterwards, participants will form small groups to develop personal strategies to stay razor-like focused, highly flexible and ready to turn uncertainty to a competitive advantage. The afternoon will conclude with an education leader panel featuring Sharon Beaudry of Oregon Tech, Robert Dillon of Intentional School Designs and Tony Lake of Lindbergh Schools.

Make sure to visit the booths of Educational Dealer advertisers:

Aarco Products Inc.

Academia Furniture Industries

Certwood Ltd.

Childbrite by Manta-Ray

Flash Furniture

Jonti-Craft, Inc.

Kore Design, LLC

Marco Group, Inc.

Screenflex Portable Partitions

USACapitol

Wood Designs

Booth #649 Ad on page 10

Booth #2065 Ad on inside back cover

Booth #773 Ad on inside front cover

Booth #1650 Ad on page 11

Booth #2081 Ad on page 29

Booth #1541 Ad on page 11

Booth #1653 Ad on page 14

Booth #1175 Ad on back cover

Booth #575 Ad on page 24

Booth #959 Ad on page 10

Booth #947 Ad on page 13

To see a full list of exhibitors, visit ed-spaces.com

Creating the Classrooms of Tomorrow

can develop a network of friends to connect with like-minded individuals and explore leadership opportunities.

The popular EDfest All Industry Party returns once again. This year, the networking party will be held 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on November 8 at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Class is in session

Opportunities to connect

In addition to the exhibit hall floor, attendees can network at a couple of special events.

Bold Women, Bold Conversations offers female professionals a chance to meet fellow industry leaders, 5 to 6:30 p.m. on November 7. Participants

Education isn’t just for students. EDspaces attendees have the opportunity to join nine EDsessions during the whole show. The hour-long educational sessions span topics including security, funding, design, pedagogy, community engagement and more. Speakers represent school districts, research institutes and organizations and businesses which operate in the education field. There will be plenty of time between sessions to network and visit the exhibit hall.

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At Educators Resource, we offer a wide range of high-quality educational supplies and toys that are perfect for educating today’s child.

Our ecommerce ful�illment services provide:

• high quality content to support your website

• fast and accurate order processing

• reliable shipping

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With Educators Resource, you can focus on growing your business and delivering great products without the hassle of warehousing, packing and shipping.

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One of the unique aspects of the EDspaces show is how the EDsessions rooms are transformed into “specifically designed learning spaces,” according to Tucker. “Our designers and manufacturers will actually design rooms for our attendees to act as students,” he said. “They’re going to go in, see what the design looks like, sit in the chairs and see if it’s comfortable to them and their students.”

Tours galore

EDspaces attendees can further enhance their experience with various tours of learning environments around the Charlotte area. All tours include an educational component and qualify for multiple AIA LU/HSW and IDCEC CEU/HSW credits. Pre-registration is required.

The first K-12 EDfacility and uptown Charlotte walking tours are set to take place on November 6. The EDfacility tour, scheduled for 12 to 5 p.m., will explore Cherry Park Elementary School of Language Immersion, Catawba Ridge High School and Covenant Day High School. Meanwhile, the uptown Charlotte walking tour, 4 to 5:30 p.m., will have tentative stops at:

• Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts + Culture

• Mint Museum Uptown

• Bechler Museum

• Bank of America HQ Lobby Painting / Founders Hall

• ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Marti Center

• UNC – Charlotte Center City Building

• An optional gathering at Ri Ra

A second K-12 EDfacility and the higher ed EDfacility tours are scheduled for November 9. The K-12 tour, which will take place 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. will make stops at Charlotte Christian Middle/Upper School, Corvian Community High School and Charlotte Lab School. Simultaneously, the higher ed tour will feature the UNC Charlotte University Recreation Center, UNC Charlotte New Science Building, Central Piedmont Community College’s Parr Center and Northeastern School of Nursing.

For more information about each tour, visit ed-spaces.com/conference/tours.

by Tina Manzer

Time Timer’s Heather Rogers explains how a simple display that shows the passing of time can increase confidence, improve productivity, reduce stress and decrease screen time.

The original Time Timer visual timer was introduced nearly 30 years ago. What made its design so revolutionary?

Timers, like the one on your microwave or a clock on the wall, can count down the minutes but don’t offer an idea of what elapsed time looks like. The need to show how much time has passed and how much time is still available were the reasons our company founder Jan Rogers developed the original Time Timer visual timer. It made the abstract concept tangible and identifiable.

Why does it “count down” time the way it does?

Its function is about visually indicating time disappearing. The numbers are placed counterclockwise to accommodate the countdown. The disk moves to highlight the numbers and show exactly how much time is left. As time elapses, that disk gets smaller and smaller until it disappears.

10 Questions with Time Timer

Why have Time Timer products been so successful in the school market?

Teachers use Time Timer products throughout the day to keep their schedules on track and give their classrooms structure and order. Students love using visual timers because they provide a clear starting and ending point. They can see how much time they have for individual activities.

A side benefit to the original Time Timer 60-minute visual timer is that it helps young kids better understand how minutes work on an analog clock.

Your company is committed to creating products for people who have learning disabilities. How do Time Timer products help them?

Research indicates that Time Timer products are especially effective in teaching time awareness for children diagnosed with autism, dyslexia, Down Syndrome, ADD/ADHD and many other learning disabilities. In a real and direct way, our products help reduce anxiety, build confidence, strengthen focus and instill calm in daily life by helping children see and understand “when” and “how much longer.”

Because our products are easy to operate, they empower individuals with learning disabilities to work independently with greater responsibility and claim a greater sense of ownership of their time.

Time Timer products are also designed to be a universal resource. They may be incorporated into a classroom for the benefit of one or two students in particular who have a disability, but every student in the room will have access to the same time management support. In that way, Time Timer products are an excellent resource to use to help create an inclusive environment.

Heather Rogers, Time Timer

Jan Rogers, Founder

10 Questions with Time Timer

What are some of the most effective ways Time Timer products are used?

Teachers tell us our visual timers help their class get a good start to the day. After students arrive and the bell rings, they set the timer for five minutes. Teachers take attendance, the students settle in, and by the time the red disk disappears, everyone is ready to get started.

Teachers also say it’s important for reading time. Because Time Timer products are visual, verbal cues are not needed. Thus, students can fully immerse themselves in their reading without interruptions or distractions.

Students say they use our visual timers to balance their academic commitments and extracurricular activities. A Time Timer visual timer also helps them concentrate while studying because it helps them allocate time for both study sessions and breaks.

In the corporate world, Time Timer products have been shown to help meetings remain productive and stressfree. When meeting attendees can see how much time is remaining, they are more likely to stay engaged and contribute to the discussion.

Additionally, adults report that Time Timer visual timers have helped them cut down on their screen time, as our timer shows them how much time they’ve spent on Tik Tok or YouTube.

What are the top three benefits of visual timers?

First would be enhanced time perception. The visual representation creates an urgency that helps individuals grasp the passage of time more accurately. Time Timer visual timers are particularly useful for tackling large tasks because they prevent individuals from under- or over-estimating time.

Second, Time Timer products help reduce procrastination. The tangible and ever-diminishing visual element encourages people to use time wisely. The fear of wasted time diminishes as individuals see the progress they make.

Finally, our timers help with focus and concentration by serving as a constant reminder to stay on track.

How has Time Timer evolved over the years? How many different versions of your visual timer are there now?

Time Timer started with one single product – the Time Timer Original 8-inch. Today we offer more than 30 different models and accessories. Models range from a small, personal-sized Time Timer 3-inch to the Time Timer Watch for people on the go and all the way up to the Time Timer MAX that has eight different time durations for large groups and spaces. There is something for everyone!

How often do you launch new products? What’s your most recent introduction?

New models or “new and improved” models with additional features and other enhancements are launched

PK-2020

PSE-2042

PK-001

every year. The most recent launch was the Time Timer Learning Center Classroom Set. This is a set of three Time Timer 8-inch timers that come in either primary colors or secondary colors.

What are your bestsellers?

It depends! Time Timer products are sold all over the world … different cultures and regions have different preferences when it comes to which model is preferred. Here in the USA, the Time Timer Original line (the 3-, 8- and 12-inch models) do the best in the classroom. It is a tried and true, trusted resource for educators.

Do you have any tips for retailers, dealers and catalog companies for selling your product?

Please take advantage of all the marketing materials we provide. We regularly update product images, lifestyle images, product videos, content for blogs

and social media, product descriptions tailored to specific audiences and more. In addition, we encourage all retailers, dealers and catalogs to consider how they merchandise our products. Time Timer products can fit into many categories, from early childhood and middle and high school to SEL and teacher resources, and more.

For brick-and-mortar retailers, putting a model out on display encourages shoppers to pick it up and experience setting the Time Timer. If the display model is near the cash register, then the clerk can easily talk with the customer and answer any questions they have about Time Timer.

Retailers, dealers and catalog companies can feel good about the quality of Time Timer. We stand behind our products; if there

ever is an issue, we will do everything we can to make it right. We have a great customer service team and sales team who love to take care of our customers. We want to be your resource and make it easy to do business with us.

Cool Hot

innovations in the furniture and equipment category

1. CrowdFlex Acrylic Barricades from Screenflex are the perfect solution when you need separation in your facility but also clear visibility. Multiple panels can connect together for longer lengths. screenflex.com

2. AWT World Trade has been a trusted name in screen printing supplies for more than 30 years. The company also offers the industry’s most comprehensive range of screen printing supplies. sales@awtworldtrade.com awt-gpi.com/supplies.php?menu=2

3. The ADA Compatible, Portable Kitchen from Monsam Portable Sinks is perfect for bringing culinary education to special ed classes (indoors or outdoors). It comes fully assembled including a stove, microwave and fridge. 800-513-8562 portablesink.com/product-category/mobile-kitchen/

4. The Wooden Train STEAM Wall System from Flash Furniture helps students build motor skills, learn problem solving and enhance critical thinking all while having fun. Commercial grade quality, easy installation. flashfurniture.com

5. Toddler See-All from Childbrite is a toddler-friendly play table with a 4-inch-deep pan, perfect for imaginative play. Includes an optional drain to ensure easy clean up. childbrite.com

6. The Squircle Active Seating Stool from Academia Furniture allows students to release energy comfortably and safely with a unique dome base angled to sway securely in every direction. It comes in 13 colors and four height options. academiafurniture.com/products/active-seating

7. The Rainbow Accents Storage Cabinet from Jonti-Craft keeps a variety of materials secure. The freckled gray laminate with TRUEdge creates a clean, classic look. jonti-craft.com

8. The Storage and Seating Unit from Wood Designs lets little ones dive into a world of imagination and cozy comfort. It’s the perfect spot to read favorite books, chat with friends or simply relax. wooddesigns.org

9. Akt Wire Base Chairs from MooreCo are sleek, sophisticated, stackable chairs that turn any space into a versatile, collaborative learning environment. moorecoinc.com

10. The First-Aid Couch from USACapitol provides top-tier comfort and support. Meticulously crafted for enduring quality, it redefines relaxation in your school’s wellness clinic. usacapitol.com/product/1201

11. Visual Scheduler from Time Timer elevates visual schedules when paired with the award-winning visual timer. Includes whiteboard face, picto cards, card clips and whiteboard marker. Available with or without timer. 513-561-4199 support@timetimer.com timetimerwholesale.com/vs

New True

Curated Classroom Megapacks from Creative Teaching Press features a complete classroom theme in a box. Each pack includes more than 200 pieces of decor and more! creativeteaching.com

Use the 20 Sea Life Wooden Magnets from Learning Advantage for decoration and imaginative play. Move and arrange them on fridges and whiteboards during lessons about the ocean or story time! #SW400020. Toll free 866-564-8251 orders@learningadvantage.com learningadvantagedealer.com

The Reusable Activity (double sided) placemats from Station America are a set of six mats, 12 by 18 inches. The mats have more than 12 illustrated algebraic and geometric concepts for grades 3 to 12. stores.stationamerica. com/spa_ws/shop/home

Adventures Across America

USA Fun Book from Wikki Stix takes kids on an educational sightseeing trip. It features fun, colorful and beautifully illustrated scenes that kids can complete with Wikki Stix. Includes 72 Wikki Stix. 800-869-4554 info@wikkistix.com

Reusable Re-Write and Re-Write Max from Boogie Board (Kent Displays) are the #1 alternative to dry-erase boards, thanks to teachers. The LCD tablets are perfect for practicing letters and numbers. myboogieboard.com

CelluClay Instant Paper

Mâché from ACTÍVA is a compressed, ready-toactivate papier mâché medium. It’s a super-fine, versatile texture that’s great for sculpting and modeling – just add water!

903-938-2224 support@ activaproducts.com

Bring the look of Minecraft to the classroom with Eureka. The brand-new license is available now!

Contact Brian Roberts to place your order. Brian.roberts@ dgamericas.com

SIO-2 PRAI White Stoneware Clay from Sandtastik is high-quality clay for everyday use. It fires between cone 6-10 and glazes well. Imported from Spain.

905-734-7340

info@sandtastik.com

In 7 Mighty Moves available through Scholastic, literacy expert and classroom teacher Lindsay Kemeny shares seven ways K–2 teachers can modify what they are currently doing to transform their reading instruction. scholastic.com/ tsmarketing

UGlu from Pro Tapes is a removable adhesive glue in a convenient tape-like format which bonds to most surfaces, including rough or uneven surfaces. UGlu is non-toxic, acidfree, waterproof and weatherproof. protapes.com/ products/uglu-600dashes-sheets/

The Winter Adventure Pencil 12-Pack from Musgrave Pencil Company features a #2 HB core, decorated with all things winter! This is a set of four different designs, with top-of-the-line white latex-free erasers. pencils.net

EYE ON EDUCATION

Texas Bookstores and State Legislators Battle Over New Banned Book Law

Bookstores in Texas worry that a new law – one that requires them to evaluate books to determine if they are

“sexually explicit”– will put them out of business. The law will also force stores to issue a recall on books newly rated “sexually explicit” that were sold to schools in the past, reports ABC News.

“We just don’t see a path forward because we don’t have the records in order to be able to comply, not to mention the workload of reading literally thousands of books in a short period of time with no financial support,” Charley Rjesek, CEO of BookPeople in Austin, told ABC News.

His store, along with Blue Willow Bookshop in Houston plus the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, the American Booksellers Association and the Association of American Publishers filed suit this summer against leaders at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, the Texas Board of Education and the state Commissioner of Education, arguing that the book

restrictions violate the First and 14th Amendments. In addition, their complaint says that the law forces business owners to express and impose the government’s views or “face government punishment,” according to ABC News.

On August 31, a federal judge granted a temporary injunction that blocked the law from taking effect as scheduled on September 1, and denied the state’s bid to dismiss the high-profile suit, reported Publishers Weekly. The parties await the judge’s written opinion and order granting the injunction. A day later, attorneys for the state of Texas renewed their bid to stay the preliminary until the Fifth Circuit court of appeals can weigh in on the order.

Governor Greg Abbott signed HB 900 into law in June saying, “Some school libraries have books with sexually explicit and vulgar materials. I’m signing

a law that gets that trash out of our schools.” According to that law, vendors “must perform a contextual analysis of the material to determine whether the material describes, depicts or portrays sexual conduct in a way that is patently offensive.”

Shirley Robinson, executive director of the Texas Library Association, told ABC News, “The crux of all of this is that it puts the responsibility on the vendors to rate the books. We’re talking about anyone from an independent bookseller all the way up to Amazon. And it’s really unclear how vendors are going to implement the rating requirements. You might have a case where one book is rated differently by a number of different vendors, and it will be up to the Texas Education Agency ultimately to make the determination if that book is rated correctly or not.”

In an interview with the Texas Public Policy Foundation, Rep. Jared Patterson, a sponsor of HB 900, explained what will happen to stores if they fail to comply with the legislation. “If they’re found to not rate them appropriately, the vendors go on a banned list and they basically get the death penalty. School districts can no longer buy from these book vendors so the entire responsibility lies on the book vendors, not the school districts.”

The Texas Library Association is concerned about the language in the bill, which is vague and broad, Robinson concluded. “The requirements are going to be unrealistic and very cumbersome to implement. Unfortunately, this could really stifle business in the state of Texas.”

Where Job Prospects for College Graduates are the Best in the Country

According to business advice firm Venture Smarter, North Dakota is the best state for college graduates, earning a score of a perfect 10 based on earning potential, degree value, the burden of student debt and job opportunities. Not only does the state minimize students’ financial burden, it also reports the lowest average student debt at $28,604 per person. Its high starting salary – about $43,000 – is significantly higher than the state’s $31,000 living wage. North Dakota also received high scores for job opportunities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 12 percent of the local workforce is of graduate age

and job openings have increased by 6.5 percent in 2023.

The ranking, created by Venture Smarter, gave each state a score out of 10 based on the following factors:

• Degree value, determined by examining tuition fees and graduation rates

• Earning potential, determined comparing the average graduate starting salary to each state’s living wage

• Financial burden, based on the typical student loan debt reported per person in each area

• Job opportunities, based on the rate of new job openings reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the proportion of the workforce of graduating age.

Data was gathered from the National Center for Educational Statistics, the World Population Review, Zip Recruiter, the Education Data Initiative and BLS.

In second place was Idaho with a score of 8.7 out of 10. The state has one of the highest average graduate salaries – $50,941 – which is 52 percent higher than its $33,600 living wage. Wyoming ranked third due to its secondlowest living wage ($31,250 per person) making it more affordable for entry-level workers. Wyoming also has a low level of student debt: $31,250 per person.

On the other end of the scale is Pennsylvania, which ranked poorly in terms of student debt ($33,385) and its lower degree value. The average tuition cost in Pennsylvania is $14,500 – 43 percent higher than the national average. Graduate rates stand at a lower 32 percent.

The category in which every state performed poorly was degree value, meaning their tuition fees are higher but their graduation rates are lower. In addition, the study found that almost half of all states pay their graduates less than the national average of $42,978.

According to ZipRecruiter, Washington was the most generous state for graduates with a starting salary of $55,960 – two thirds more than the $33,577 paid to graduates in North Carolina.

C-Line has expanded its paper category to bring customers an even wider selection of items in time for the back-to-school season.

“Paper is one of C-Line’s fastest growing categories,”

commented Jennifer Krach, vice president of sales and marketing. “Due to increased customer demand, we are excited to expand our paper category.”

In addition to its one-subject notebooks, C-Line now offers three- and five-subject notebooks. Both come in an assortment of colors including black, blue, green and red. With colorful, durable covers, these notebooks are easy to spot across the room or in a backpack, and make it easy to color-code projects. These spiral-bound notebooks are available in wide ruled formats. The pages are perforated and hole punched to fit into standard three-ring binders.

C-Line has also added a new color assortment in a wide ruled format for its composition notebooks. In addition to the traditional black marble design, it now offers blue, green, red and black in an 80-sheet, 160-page book. The inside front and back covers feature a place to record schedules, metric unit conversions, a multiplication chart and fraction/ decimal information.

Another C-Line addition is the 100 pack of 3- by 5-inch index cards. These white cards are ruled on one side, blank on the other, and a must-have for back-to-school note taking, flash cards and more!

Mountain View School

District in El Monte, CA became the first school district to provide a completely touchless restroom experience for building students, teachers and visitors.

The Mountain View School District is a K-8 district located in the heart of the San Gabriel Valley and serves approximately 4,500 students at eight schools, as well as the educational needs of approximately 490 preschool children and families through its Head Start State Preschool and Children’s Center programs.

The district promotes sanitary conditions with BIOtouchless, automatic, touchless toilet paper dispensers. By using BIOtouchless, the toilet paper rolls are fully protected from airborne pathogens that collect on top of exposed toilet paper rolls in public restroom stalls. The high capacity of the units also reduces the number of times maintenance staff have to refill the paper in each stall, enabling them to tend to other tasks.

The district utilized its available ESSER III funds remaining in the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act to purchase the devices, so the entire upgrade was funded with federal funds.

“In a post COVID-19 pandemic public restroom environment, we wanted to provide a completely touchless experience for health and safety reasons,” said Jeff Truschel, director of maintenance, operations and transportation for the Mountain View School District. “In addition to the hygienic aspect, based upon the savings that commercial buildings have seen from automatic paper towel dispensers, we expect to see a 50 percent reduction in the amount of toilet paper consumption. Along with safety, financial responsibility is always a priority in our district.”

The TP-100 has a fully enclosed, aesthetically pleasing design that is suitable for all commercial restroom environments. An onboard processor manages the sensors and motors that deliver high reliability to ensure a pleasant user experience. A simple wave of the hand dispenses 20- or 24-inch segments of paper or a continuous feed for ADA compliance. Multiple dispenses are always available, as needed.

“The market is embracing touchless technologies due to health, ROI and convenience reasons,” stated BIOtouchless CEO Kevin Dailey. “We applaud the district for its vision and commitment to the health and wellbeing of its students and teachers.”

Founded in 2015, BIOtouchless delivers patented paper dispensing devices worldwide. The company is dedicated to improving the quality of the patron experience in public restrooms. For complete information, visit biotouchless.com.

COMPANY

The Randolph School Supply Company is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Brothers Robert and Thomas and their families in Champaign, IL founded the company in 1923 to serve one-room school houses across the country. Throughout most of its history, the company had equipped and supplied

The “School Form Specialists Since 1923” RANDOLPH

SCHOOL SUPPLY

FootFidget® 2.0 for Classroom Desks

Designed by Physical Therapists!

Students fidget with their legs and feet which improves focus while they learn.

everything that schools needed, from chalk and inkwells to desks, maps, chalkboards and film projectors.

By the 1970s, Randolph School Supply had reduced its focus to printed school forms including attendance registers, cumulative record file folders, report cards, lunch tickets and diplomas. Current owner Jim Fialkowski began his association with the company in 1978 while still an undergrad at the University of Illinois and eventually became the print production manager. Even after leaving to further pursue his career in the Champaign-Urbana printing industry, Fialkowski returned each spring to assist in producing Randolph School Supply’s unique line of diplomas. He eventually bought the company in 1997 and moved it to Mahomet, IL.

The advent of the digital age, with small office computers and printers, further reduced the need for many of its products Today, Randolph School Supply is focused primarily on supplying specialized cumulative health and scholarship file folders. It also continues to provide diplomas for a few longstanding customers.

As long as there is a need for its products, the Randolph School Supply Company will continue to serve the many schools and school districts it has cheerfully satisfied throughout its first 100 years.

This summer, EDmarkeplace launched a new website. The site currently showcases 19 vendors, features a lookbook of their educational environments and includes a secure, backend portal for dealers and vendors with pricing, training and assets. EDmarketplace is a buying consortium in partnership between the Education Market Association (EDmarket) and ISG. The purpose is a win-win collaborative solution for dealers and manufacturers.

The new website can be found at edmarketplace.biz.

In addition, EDmarketplace Classroom return to EDspaces 2023 in November. EDmarketplace manufacturers who will be featured include Certwood USA, Correll, Flash Furniture, Hirsch Industries, Jonti-Craft, Lesro Industries, Nook Pod, Paragon Furniture and Screenflex Portable Solutions.

Phonics Instruction in Practice

there has been an increased emphasis on collaborative spaces once in-person classes resumed after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tables in USACapitol’s Interlox System collection, with hooks underneath the tabletops are ideal for not only individual work spaces, but also creating pods. Plus, with unique shapes such as circles, triangles and wavy rectangles, teachers can adapt the classroom to their needs. “We’re seeing a lot of collaborative desks that can break out into individual units for testing, but then come together,” Mantz stated.

Demand for desks with castors has increased.

USACapitol’s Makerspace tables, outfitted with castors, are another option for collaborative learning spaces. The heavy-duty tables are designed to be workspaces for tools, 3-D printing, working with the “tactile part of education,” according to Mantz. “People are leaning on it, putting weight on it. They’re not just sitting there writing – they’re doing activities.”

A growing trend centers on providing students an outlet to expel energy while sitting down. “There was a period of time when people wanted a chair that had a rocking motion,” Mantz recalled. “The problem with those chairs is that the teacher is trying to teach and students’ heads are

bobbing and bouncing. With our heavy-duty swivel chair, the person can still focus while they can bounce their leg or swivel quietly at the same time.”

USACapitol typically introduces new items yearly. Designers work on new products in the spring and summer. Construction takes place in the fall, just in time to have the items available for the new buying season. EDspaces is the main show at which USACapitol exhibits. The company also participates in state shows with dealers. Its products are available for purchase through authorized dealers.

“We like to participate with dealers because they have all kinds of furniture. We don’t make all of the furniture for schools. The dealers are going to have different manufacturers who make different things which are displayed at shows. The shows are a good time to get samples, make sales calls, work a show with them.”

Complete Classroom Solutions for Early Education

Introducing our new, dynamic assortment of classroom essentials and activity furniture. Designed to delight, engage and flow with the day’s activities, Bright Beginnings complete classroom solutions offer everything you need from tables and chairs to STEAM walls and puzzles.

USACapitol Helps Customize Learning Spaces

by Victoria

The classroom can be a dynamic space for students. USACapitol, a family-owned furniture manufacturer, seeks to add a personal touch with its unique selection.

All of the company’s products are made in the U.S., with 99 percent of the raw materials made in the country. “Everything we can buy from the United States, we do source here,” said Todd Mantz, owner and president of USA Capitol. “That allows us to have a quick time to market and have a lot of color options and customization.”

Charles Reed and Mantz’s father Terry founded USACapitol in 1986. Reed worked for a regional furniture company while Terry was employed at a large consumer products business. The two met while searching for vendors and decided to go into business together, selling hard plastics furniture. At the time, hard plastic furniture was made in the northern states while southern and western states concentrated on soft plastics.

“My dad and his partner said, ‘We’ll make hard plastic in the south!’ And they started manufacturing it in Texas,” Mantz said. “They were the only ones at the time who did. It was a good gameplan to get started.”

Mantz joined the company two

years later. He and his wife Kristy, who came on board as USACapitol’s vice president, fully took over the business seven years ago.

Colorful choices galore

While USACapitol’s main focus is on K-12 classrooms, its furniture can be found in collegiate settings, corporate offices and break rooms, churches, convention spaces and medical offices. “My joke is that every front porch in our hometown has some of our chairs sitting on them because they make their way home,” Mantz said.

USACapitol’s catalog features a base of 200 products – from chairs and stools to tables, desks and accessories. With the dozens of customization options, customers have 57,000 variations to choose from. “For me, it doesn’t matter what component you’re working with, just as long as the customization is there,” Mantz said.

The ability to provide an array of colorful furniture further sets USACapitol apart from other manufacturers, Mantz said. Customers have more than 20 colors to choose from for tables and chairs, from subtle and neutral tones to vibrant and playful hues. Educators can color-coordinate classrooms based on school colors or

their own theme.

“You can add that touch of color and texture into the room,” Mantz added. “It makes the room not overstimulating, but still fun. The teacher doesn’t have to put stuff up everywhere for color and make that space inviting for students. School should be the most exciting part of the day.”

USACapitol’s most popular products are its chairs. Mantz credits this to branding, as the company was formerly known as Capitol Seating Company. Today, its seating options come with different platforms, from swivel stools and rockers to regular desk chairs in multiple heights.

The furniture provided by USACapitol is ideal for school use due to its quality and longevity, said Mantz. When designing a product, Mantz and his team consider what raw materials are available and how to use them in the most cost-effective way. “If you look at school furniture, all of the top sizes and shapes (for tables and desks) come out of a 4-by-8 or 5-by-10 board,” Mantz said.

Current trends lead to creation

In recent years, Mantz has seen a growing trend of establishing different areas within a classroom. Additionally, (continued on page 29)

Ritter

Todd Mantz, Owner and President