Educational Dealer June by Fahy-Williams Publishing

June 2021

FOR PEOPLE WHO SELL TO TEACHERS, PARENTS AND SCHOOLS

Back to School 2021

Federal Funding is Good News for Education Market • EDspaces: a Show You Can Go To • Mobile Furniture Supports Makerspaces • Food-Growing Appliances Support STEM • Strong Businesses Rock the Ages of Their Employees

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THE ISSUE

by Kevin Fahy

Back in the Saddle Again

So we’re in the post-apocalypse now. Last week I ate indoors in a restaurant for the first time in 14 months. I also got on an airplane. We haven’t had an experience like this in the past century, but we’ve made plenty of movies about it, which is perhaps the reason that it all seems vaguely familiar. This is the part of the film where the survivors of, say, a nuclear holocaust come cautiously creeping out of their caves, blinking in the bright sunlight at a new landscape. In this particular movie, it’s not the landscape that’s changed. It’s us. The script for this movie might have been written by Rod Serling. The long withdrawal from our accustomed lives gave us a lot of time to think, and one of the things we thought about was technology. It’s not like we were unaware that we were living in an era of rapid tech development before the pandemic, but we had a different attitude about it. We thought we could pick and choose what we wanted from the real world or the virtual one. Pre-pandemic, we could go to a casino in Las Vegas, or stay in our living room and go gambling online. We could go on a virtual tour of homes, or actually get in the car with a real estate agent. Go to a stage play or stream something on a laptop. Play a sport or simulate one on our own TV. When all those options were gone, we got to see what a fully technology-driven life would be like. In the world of 2020, you either did things electronically or you didn’t

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do them at all, and that dictum applied to everything from business to education to our personal lives. In most cases, the verdict seems to be that we liked things the way they used to be. Electronics is a huge part of our society and will remain so, but the things that we chose to do in person before the pandemic, we would like to go back to doing in person. In most cases, but not all. According to an article on CNBC.com last month, most major corporations have been very slow to make commitments regarding any sort of timetable for bringing office workers back to the office. It cited a survey indicating that only 9 percent of large firms started refilling office buildings over the winter, while 12 percent planned to do so in the current quarter and 21 percent over the summer. Forty percent had no specific plan. The more important question, though, is how much of their office space will not be reclaimed at all. A lot of employees have proven that they can be just as productive working from home, or that they only need to be in the office one or two days a week. Given that real estate is one of the biggest expense lines most companies have, there’s no way they’re going to continue paying for more space than they need. It won’t be just the employers looking to save money, either. The costs associated with commuting have gone up substantially in recent years, not to mention the strain it can put on a whole family. In many (continued on page 5)

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June 2021

FOR PEOPLE WHO SELL TO TEACHERS, PARENTS AND SCHOOLS

The Issue

Back in the Saddle Again by Kevin Fahy

EDspaces Is a “Go”

As in GO TO IT. The in-person event will showcase vibrant, creative and connected solutions for school buildings – preK through higher ed.

Getting Over It

Massive federal funding to get students back on track is good news for the education market.

Leverage the Power of an Older and Younger Workforce

Hydroponics: A Good Fit for STEM Education

Getting Over 12 It

The most productive and high-performing businesses have a mix of employees that represent all age groups, explains workplace trends expert Rick Grimaldi. Shelley Mathews, CEO of FullCircle26, discusses her innovative grow systems, how teachers across the country are using them, and why NOW is a really good time to sell them to schools.

Endcap

The well-engineered school furniture from Haskell Education meets the needs of today’s schools, from versatility to mobility, and from cost to efficiency.

18 Departments

20 Eye on Education 24 Industry News 26 Business Notes 29 New & True 32 Cool & Hot

Innovations in the furniture and equipment category

Index of Advertisers Ed Dealer Welcomes Six New Advertisers

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THE ISSUE (continued from page 3)

cases, employees can even find more affordable housing when it doesn’t require as much proximity to downtown office buildings. Speaking of which, there is a clear trend emerging in terms of downsizing urban office space, especially among retailers who had already reduced their store count. Nordstrom, for example, let the lease expire on a Seattle tower, citing the “personal preferences” of its workforce. Old Navy will clear out of its corporate headquarters in San Francisco and move in with its nearby parent company, Gap Inc. A few major retailers have actually put a number on their intended office reduction. Ralph Lauren will cut about 30 percent of corporate real estate in North America. The largest drugstore chain, CVS, is also reducing office square footage by 30 percent. It’s not just retailers. Other sectors are shedding office space as well, which might lead you to wonder what’s going to happen to all that real estate. Well, not to worry, there is one sector of the economy that’s soaking up all that excess capacity. You guessed it. Technology firms are expanding throughout the country. In New York City, Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google have all greatly increased their footprint in the past year. There is a bit of irony here, that the very people who made it possible for other companies to operate remotely have determined that they want their own employees to gather in person. Apparently they agree with most of the rest of us who run businesses, that there is an intrinsic value to personal interaction and collaboration. Even socializing and camaraderie may have a positive effect on the bottom line. Most of us also feel that way about education. Prior to the

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THE ISSUE

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pandemic, multiple studies had shown that online education resulted in poor academic outcomes compared to in-person curricula. Those studies generally compared the major for-profit online schools to traditional public schools, but the COVID-driven public school online initiatives did little to change that perception. Although some selfmotivated students with engaged parents onsite have prospered, it appears that the majority have lost ground, and it’s possible that they may never fully recover. Most parents are very anxious for their kids to get back to in-person instruction. Most, but not all. In an April 11 article entitled “Online Schools are Here to Stay, Even After the Pandemic,” The New York Times explained why some students don’t want to go back to brick-and-mortar education. Some kids have health issues or developmental problems that make them uncomfortable around other kids, or that simply make it difficult to get to school, stay there all day and get back home. Other kids, probably more than we acknowledge, face discrimination or bullying. In some cases it may just be a matter of geography. Alaskan schools are fewer and further apart than those in Connecticut, and the weather can be more forbidding. The Anchorage School District will enroll 2,000 students in its one-year-old online school this summer. Several hundred school districts throughout the country established virtual schools during the pandemic that they plan to continue indefinitely after the virus is gone. According to a study by the RAND Corporation, about 20 percent of school districts either have a permanent online school or plan to start one. Prior to the pandemic, only

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about 1 percent of American K-12 students were engaged in fully distant learning. No one knows where the numbers will settle, but it could be several times that. Still a small minority, it will nonetheless represent a lot of kids, a lot of parents, a lot of teachers and a lot of school supplies. You don’t have any control of the commercial real estate market, nor can you determine the degree to which education will shift to an online model. You can only react to new realities, and so you will. What you can control are the changes to your personal life. It won’t be long now until restrictions are lifted. You will be able to go to a ballgame or a restaurant or a friend’s home. Or not. Perhaps you found an electronic version of something that you prefer to the original. Maybe it’s easier, quicker, less expensive, or you just enjoy it. I’m sure there are plenty of people, and not just teenagers, who would rather text someone back and forth than have a face-to-face conversation. I’m not one of those people. It may seem contradictory, but I am an introvert who enjoys being around people. As much as I can appreciate a good movie on TV, it doesn’t compare to being part of an audience in a darkened theater, transported as a group to another place and time. I know that many of you would call me “old school” and not consider it a compliment, but that’s okay. I’m not even sure I disagree with you. I’m just relieved that we will soon have choices again, and I know what mine will be.

You can e-mail Kevin at kfahy@fwpi.com. June 2021 — EducationalDealerMagazine.com 7

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EDspaces Is a “Go” by Tina Manzer

After more than a year of canceled tradeshows and rejiggered virtual formats, we are all anxious to make face-to-face connections with others in our industry. At last, our opportunity to get together is just a few months away, when EDSpaces convenes in Pittsburgh. As the go-to resource for professionals involved in school building, and school furniture and equipment, EDspaces delivers a live show infused with a sense of discovery. In the signature EDmarketplace, for instance, exhibitors and specialty spaces combine to create a future-forward display of school pieces and parts. It showcases vibrant, creative, and connected solutions designed to address the needs of the built environment, preK-12 through higher education. Then there’s the conference. The curated, multitrack, educational and professional development series contains more than 50 sessions. They’re conducted in classrooms designed by visionary A+D firms;

companies that competed to share their innovative ideas on the future of learning. Last year, when remote learning dominated the educational scene, virtual lessons multiplied out of sheer necessity. They illuminated the building blocks of effective instruction and revealed that sitting in standard classrooms isn’t the only path to student achievement. It placed education delivery and school buildings firmly at a turning point in terms of facilities design. Today, echoing the qualities of revamped workplaces, schools need to build and equip flexible next-generation spaces for teachers and students; multi-faceted places that celebrate collaboration and inclusivity as much as multimedia developments. Long gone are the days of uniform chalkboards and orderly rows of desks. Instead, a variety of imaginative spatial layouts are challenging the status quo. They incorporate priorities such as sustainability, and demonstrate how time spent outdoors is critical to a student’s growth and creativity.

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Who will be there? EDspaces is a community of visionaries that includes more than 200 exhibitors, a keynote speaker, and thought leaders who are determined to improve and transcend educational design norms. As an incubator of progressive ideas and a knowledgesharing playground, EDspaces unites forward-thinking architects, designers, administrators, and facilities managers with the manufacturers, distributors, and service providers who offer thoughtful products and solutions. Throughout the conference, participants gain inspiration and knowledge during hands-on, smallgroup workshops; and pre-conference,

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Innovation transforms learning environments, and it’s on full display at EDspaces—where teaching, technology, and design converge.

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“Walking to the Sky” a large-scale sculpture by artist Jonathan Borofsky, was installed on the campus of Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh in 2006. Borofsky explains that it is “a celebration of the human potential for discovering who we are and where we need to go.”

Innovation was born here

With more than 30 colleges and universities, Pittsburgh has earned a reputation as a global leader in education. Educational and technological advances brought forth by its universities are at the forefront of the manufacturing rebirth there and around the country. Students learn and work alongside renowned professors, doctors, engineers and entrepreneurs. Those who desire a career in the arts will find rigorous theater and drama programs in respected academic establishments.

Pittsburgh is home to Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh, where researchers have demonstrated cutting-edge brain science, launched innovative startups, and led the robotics and computer science industries. On Pittsburgh’s campuses – where emoticons and driverless cars originated – students and their mentors are creating the future of the world. Corporations, businesses, healthcare systems and nonprofit organizations recognize the quality of Pittsburgh’s higher educational systems and frequently seek students for internships and jobs. Students that move on to jobs in Pittsburgh have given the city’s population a relatively young median age of just 34 years old. Many of the university campuses are located in Pittsburgh’s Downtown and Oakland neighborhoods, adding vibrancy and cultural diversity to a city recognized for its livability and wide array of career paths.

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ED spaces a “GO”

deep-dive, quick-fire learning, and snack-size sessions in specialty spaces throughout the exhibit hall. The EDspaces Education Advisory Group reviews sessions from hundreds of speakers to develop programming that serves the professional development needs of those who plan, design, and manage facilities for students in preK12 through higher-education learning environments. EDfacilities Tours offer expeditionary learning opportunities at standout educational facilities in Pittsburgh, led by their design and facilities teams. Specifically for distributors The Educational Distribution Symposium on November 2 from 1 to 5 p.m. combines education market training and networking savvy to encourage top management and sales professionals to chart service goals, explore new ideas, and embrace strategies for success. Among the sessions scheduled are these. “Know Your Worth.” presented by Casey Brown, president of Boost Profits “Most companies with exceptional products and services chronically underprice because they believe customers and competitors limit their pricing power,” says Casey Brown. “The truth is you have much more say in your pricing than you may believe.” She’s a “pricing geek,” and her firm helps companies generate more sales at higher prices for improved profits. Casey began her career as an engineer at General Electric, where she worked in both R&D and manufacturing, and developed technology for which she holds a U.S. patent. She went on to lead cross-functional teams and projects at GE and later at other Global Fortune 500 companies. In her fast-paced EDspaces session, Casey will teach you how to earn what you’re worth in the market. She’ll clearly demonstrate the impact of price changes in your business, point you to areas where you are underpriced, and equip you with confidence to execute a value-based pricing strategy. Interwoven with her talk will be interactive exercises that allow you to brainstorm with your peers to cement the learning in a fun and engaging way. “Elevating the Role of the Dealer” An architect and designer panel moderated by Rhonda Ellington, vice president of sales, Lone Star Furnishings The foundation for success in today’s marketplace is built upon the ability to initiate and maintain relationships over time. A key is learning how to partner (continued on page 36)

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Getting Over It

and brainstormed solutions to a host of issues that included college readiness, mental health, and student advocacy, in addition to academics. Like prior relief bills, the American Rescue Plan money is distributed in a way that closely tracks poverty. Although the average new funding per public school student is $2,500, high-poverty schools like the ones in Newark will receive several thousand dollars more per student – as will schools in Los Angeles and Chicago, for instance, reports Chalkbeat.

by Tina Manzer

Massive federal funding to get students back on track is good news for the education market. On May 21, The New York Times announced that the pandemic in the U.S. may now be in permanent retreat. “After almost a year-and-a-half of sickness, death, grieving and isolation, the progress is cause for genuine joy,” wrote columnist David Leonhardt. More than 60 percent of American adults had already received at least one vaccine shot by May 21 – a share that was growing by 2 percentage points per week. More proof of the virus’s retreat was the low number of positive COVID tests – less than 3 percent for the first time since widespread testing began – and the falling number of hospitalized patients. Danger may still exist in areas where people are unvaccinated, including much of the Southeast. By September, though, when there will be even more distance between us and the virus, U.S. schools will have a better chance for a full and safe reopening. Back-to-school money In the meantime, the federal government is supporting the recovery of preK-12 education with an unprecedented funding infusion. The $128 billion package is nearly eight times the amount spent annually on the Title I program and is more than twice the number of federal dollars spent on education in a typical year. Many districts are planning to use the money, in part, for summer programs and tutoring to get students back on track. But academics will not be the only issues addressed, according to Chalkbeat. In May, the nonprofit news organization sponsored a Zoom meeting with students from high schools in Newark, New Jersey – a district that received at least $100 million in relief money, with more on the way. They shared their experiences during the pandemic

How they’ll spend it Districts are in charge of deciding how most of the money is used. The forum of students in Newark want funding for regular wellness checks plus outreach that informs everyone about the mental health resources that are available. There is a lot of spending flexibility, with just one notable restriction: districts must use at least 20 percent of the money to address learning loss. That’s where the plans for summer learning or enrichment, comprehensive afterschool programs and extended day or extended school year programs enter in. According to the law, money can also be used for cleaning supplies, education technology, mental health services, school building improvements that “reduce the risk of virus transmission and exposure to environmental health hazards,” and implementation of public health guidance, Chalkbeat explains. In addition, funds can be spent on “activities that are necessary to maintain the operation of and continuity of services ... and continuing to employ existing staff,” and “activities to address the unique needs of low-income children or students, children with disabilities, English learners, racial and ethnic minorities, students experiencing homelessness, and foster-care youth.” In addition to the direct money to schools, the bill includes $7 billion to create an Emergency Connectivity Fund through a program that subsidizes internet access for schools and libraries. Schools that participate can use the new money to help students and teachers access the internet at home. It is unlikely that this federal funding will be canceled out by state cuts to school budgets, adds Chalkbeat. First, the rescue package includes $350 billion for states and cities on top of the money for schools. Second, most states are in better financial shape than they expected they would be. Third, if states tried to cut budgets to highpoverty school districts specifically, they would encounter safeguards designed to prevent what happened during the Great Recession – when the deepest cuts, were, in fact,

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experienced by high-poverty districts. Nor can states reduce the share of their budget devoted to education, although they could seek a waiver from the U.S. Department of Education, notes the article. Will the money work to address learning loss? “That’s the $128 billion question,” says Chalkbeat, explaining that it will be difficult for districts to spend the new money fast enough (by September 2023). “The legislation provides a lot of money that must be spent in a relatively short time. That could make it harder for schools to spend these dollars effectively, or make permanent investments in things like smaller class sizes or more school counselors. One recent analysis suggests fully catching students up will cost even more than the massive sum Congress has already allocated. On the other hand, small-group tutoring and an extended school day both have a track record of success. Research, including a new paper reviewing dozens of studies, shows that students tend to make more progress when their schools are better funded.

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Leverage the Power of an Older and Younger Workforce by Tina Manzer

Surveying a business environment dominated by Millennials and younger workers, workplace trends expert Rick Grimaldi makes the case for why older employees are not just important, but essential. Older employees – even some from the Silent Generation – are tenaciously hanging on to their place in the workforce. That’s a really good thing, says attorney Rick Grimaldi. The most productive and highperforming companies include a mix of employees of all age ranges, older employees included. It isn’t just about fighting ageism. It’s also great for your organization’s bottom line. Research shows that age diversity can improve organizational performance and productivity.

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“Organizations are stronger when they include the contributions of more seasoned employees,” says Grimaldi, author of the new book FLEX: A Leader’s Guide to Staying Nimble and Mastering Transformative Change in the American Workplace. “A blend of different ages means you get more diverse perspectives and a synergy that gives you a competitive edge. Younger workers can come up with different ideas and may push for meaningful social and environmental change. But older employees bring a wealth of experience, insight, stability, and soft skills that younger people may not have developed yet.” Here’s another reason to keep Boomers and older workers on board: they might better understand the needs and wants of consumers in their same age range. Since this group holds the majority of wealth it the country, it makes good business sense to ensure your labor force matches your customer base. Here are a few ways your business can fight against ageism, avoid legal exposure, attract older employees, and make the most of a multigenerational work force. Stop using words that exclude older workers When you place an ad looking for someone to join a “young, dynamic team” or you laugh about a “senior moment,” that’s ageism at work (even though younger employees might not recognize it). That’s never okay, says Grimaldi. Companies looking to recruit older workers need to avoid using words that exclude them. Instead of “savvy,” “young,” or “energetic,” try words like “motivated,” “dedicated,” and “driven.” Rethink your recruitment marketing materials Make sure they reflect the diversity your organization is seeking, including workers in the Baby Boomer age category. Do photos depict older people as well as younger people? People of color? Nonbinary-gender non-conforming people? Women? Also consider where you recruit your employees, says Grimaldi. If you only advertise online, you are missing out on older job candidates. Consider reaching out to newspapers, too. Call out age as an element in your diversity and inclusion training Specifically mention “age” in your organization’s statements about the value of diversity and inclusion. Then make sure that your policies and strategies reflect the position that age is a valued diversity element in your business. Finally, include age in anti-bias training.

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Offer benefits that attract older workers Gym memberships, flexible work arrangements, and education topics such as retirement planning are all appealing to aging employees. You can also follow the lead of other creative American companies going above and beyond to attract older employees. For example, CVS offers a “Snowbird” program that allows older workers – pharmacists, photo supervisors, and cosmetic consultants – to transfer locations on a seasonal basis. (IBM has a similar program.) The National Institutes of Health actively recruits smart people over age 50 at job fairs, and then lures them with flex schedules, telecommuting opportunities, and exercise classes. Even Home Depot hires retired construction workers to advise customers on its sales floor. Don’t just hire for skills, hire for attitude A person’s openness to learning – not their age – is what makes them a great worker. In our rapidly changing work environment, those willing to adapt and learn new ways of doing things are the most valuable, regardless of age. An

older employee who is coachable and has a great attitude and a willingness to try new things might contribute more than a talented Generation Z-er who resists being trained in new skills. When you don’t hire a candidate, explain why Some candidates may assume they were not hired because of their age. Therefore, be sure to follow up to tell them the reason they were not selected. This prevents all candidates from jumping to conclusions and protects you from damaging claims of age or any other bias. Offer training programs – a.k.a. “returnships” Returnships are internships in which retired adults with a gap in work experience are onboarded and trained during a trial period and then hired if all goes well. They are essentially a career reboot for experienced workers. The idea is getting traction in a wide range of industries, from tech companies and healthcare to banking and nonprofits. Keep in mind that returnships can benefit younger employees as much as older employees. That Gen Z-er who

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struggles with the basics of work relationships could team up with that 70-year-old retired teacher you just hired. It’s a two-way street. The younger staffer can explain why and how to tweet, use an Instagram account for marketing, or offer lessons on navigating new POP software. Give people of all ages chances to work together for common purposes. Research has shown that multigenerational teams outperform less age-diverse teams on complex decision-making tasks. “Never forget the value of older employees,” concludes Grimaldi. “They bring a perspective earned from years of hard work. In addition, they are loyal and less likely to leave your organization after you’ve spent time and money investing in them. wisdom, experience, and strong work ethic enrich your team than to miss out on good talent.” Rick Grimaldi is a workplace trends expert whose unique perspective comes from his diverse career in public service, labor relations and human resources, and as a partner with law firm Fisher Phillips LLP.

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Hydroponics A Good Fit for STEM Education

Although it seems brand new, hydroponics is actually an ancient growing method – consider the hanging gardens of Babylon and the floating gardens of the Aztecs. During World War II, hydroponic systems were sent to soldiers on non-arable Pacific islands so that they had a food source. Scientists

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and botanists have continued to fine-tune hydroponics techniques, and today it’s considered a hot agricultural innovation. A few years ago, Shelley Mathews, CEO of FullCircle26, recognized its potential for growth (get it?) and became the North American distributor of hightech Opcom hydroponic systems, made in China. Right away, the former VP of Dixon Ticonderoga drew parallels between the science of her grow systems and what was happening with STEM in schools. To date, more than 1,000 schools now have Shelley’s systems in their buildings. She’d like to get them into more, and in a recent interview told us that she thinks the educational dealer network can help. Ed Dealer: How’s business? Shelley Mathews: Over the last three years, it’s increased by double digits. Really, since we’ve started, it’s been an amazing ride. Hydroponics was a new science to me when I started as a sales rep with OPCOM. When they offered me the opportunity to become the North American distributor, I felt it was my calling. The owner told me, “I’m not doing this for the money. I’m doing this because people need to eat,” and I’ll never forget it! I thought I’d like to help him roll out his products in North America. Opcom is a great company; a standard-bearer for quality medical

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devices. Like those devices, the hydroponic growing systems are backed by high tech, but are so simple to use. So your company more than survived the COVID lockdown. Yes, in part because food insecurity accompanied the pandemic last year. People reached out to us – especially senior citizens and members of the military – because they wanted to start growing their own food. School orders increased, too, especially since the USDA made organic hydroponic operations eligible for the National Organic Program (NOP). It’s helped our business because it made our systems eligible for grant funding. How do teachers use them? We get a call from a teacher about every other day asking for a quote on our products. Many are looking to support their STEM curriculum; others are looking at hydroponics from a nutrition standpoint – to feed kids (continued on page 35)

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EYE ON EDUCATION Your Marketing Should Target Afterschool Programs Right Now The American Rescue Plan provides $500 billion that can be used in part to support young people during the hours they are out of school, according to the National Afterschool Association (NAA). Here’s how the funds are allocated • $8.45B available from state education agencies, including: 3 $1.22B set-aside for summer enrichment; 3 $1.22B set-aside for afterschool programs 3 5 percent (approximately, $6.1 billion) for learning recovery, which can include afterschool/ summer/expanded learning time. • $22B provided to local education agencies for learning recovery strategies, including afterschool and summer enrichment;

• $39 billion for child care, which can include school-age care, which will flow to state child care agencies; • $1 billion for Corporation for National and Community Service through AmeriCorps for positions to help address learning recovery and other purposes; • $350 billion for state and local governments that can be used in part for childcare and other purposes. According to Gina Warner, executive director of the National Afterschool Association (NAA), it is the largest federal funding investment ever in afterschool. It indicates that policymakers are recognizing what research has been showing for a while – that afterschool programs are critical and necessary partners to the academic success and social and emotional development of children. “The nearly $30 billion will allow programs to double the number of children they were serving pre-pandemic, meaning many

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programs will be able to return to operating at full capacity while also expanding into communities with new programs to support children and families,” she said in an interview with The Toy Association in March. Some of the monies will be granted directly by the states, while some will be allocated to local school systems for dissemination. Funds will be spent over 24 to 30 months, until September 2023. Many children have been isolated and inside for more than a year because of the pandemic. Therefore, “Afterschool professionals are eager to engage them in fun and healthy play with their peers,” Warner explained. “Play is a crucial component of a child’s healthy development and developmentally appropriate play, including free play, is a strong component of a wellrounded afterschool program.

“Afterschool professionals are also well-versed in play activities that engage children in learning and academic enrichment,” she added. “They will be seeking toys, games, art supplies, etc. that help facilitate learning in a fun and hands-on way.” In addition, toys and resources that promote literacy, STEM, and other academic skills will be needed for programs and activities that specifically address learning loss and recovery. The National Afterschool Association (NAA) is the

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Research on gender gaps in science achievement shows that while girls earn better grades in science than boys, they leave the science field much earlier, reports Edutopia. Girls’ science grades were 6.3 percent higher than boys’ according to a recent largescale study that encompassed more than 1.6 million students across the globe. But according to the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. women earned only 36 percent of STEM bachelor’s degrees, despite being awarded 58 percent of all bachelor’s degrees. Why does this happen? “The literature suggests that it has more to do with identity, efficacy, and belonging,” said Kathryn Stevenson to Edutopia. In the article, the Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management professor at North Carolina State University discussed the often-

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invisible background conditions that make people feel welcomed in a community – or in the classroom. In other words, girls have the chops to succeed in a science career, but “something” eventually pushes them to the margins. The results of a new study by Stevenson and her team, published in the International Journal of Science Education, offer some clues. For the study, the researchers split 640 fifth-grade students into two groups. In the first group, students had business-as-usual science instruction that emphasized lectures, in-class experiments, and discussions. In the second group, students participated in full-day science activities outdoors throughout the year. They visited schoolyards, nearby natural areas and state parks where they typically took a short hike, participated in handson science investigations, and journaling. The outdoor lessons were aligned to state science standards. Girls in traditional classes saw their grades slowly decline over the course of the school year, while the grades of boys in their classes improved. But the girls in the outdoor classes maintained their science grades and even outperformed their male peers. Their perception of science also changed. “Being outdoors offers a good setting in which to teach science in a way that girls respond to,” notes Stevenson. “Something about the shift in activities – and the subtle changes in pedagogy and classroom culture – caused girls to change their view of the entire discipline. “All students, including girls, respond well when you make science relevant to their everyday lives,” she continues. “If traditional STEM classroom activities aren’t allowing girls to see themselves as scientists, then perhaps new strategies that shift the paradigm, like hands-on and inquiry-based learning, can broaden the appeal of STEM and make it come alive in really tangible ways that all students can relate to.” But that’s not enough, writes Edutopia’s Research and Standards Editor Youki Terada. He urges educators and policymakers to examine classroom dynamics – activities, assumptions and structural issues – that may signal indifference to the needs of girls. More attention should be paid to real-world applications, not isolated problem solving, he says; and collaborative projects should be given more value than independent work. He also calls for less competition and speed and more open-ended inquiry and iteration. By doing so, he says, classrooms will be less likely to push girls and other marginalized groups to the sidelines.

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Shelley Mathews, CEO of hydroponic growing systems company FullCircle26, is also a farmer who helps the underserved and those most in need. In addition to donating her surplus harvests to her neighbors and her local community center in Fox Lake, Illinois, Shelley has sown the seeds of a Team Feed donation program to benefit Feeding America. Feeding America is the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization with a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs. Feeding America provides meals to more than 40 million people each year. “Every $1 donated helps provide at least 10 meals,” Shelley explains. To donate, visit teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/participant/FullCircle26inc. OPCOM Hydroponic Systems from FullCircle26 are operating in more than 1,500 schools in America and hundreds of homes across the U.S. and Canada. Products from three school-furniture manufacturers received Innovation Awards at EDspaces last fall. • the MakerTron Makerspace Cabinet, Pedagogy Furniture (see more on pages 33). • the inclusive, adaptable Sensory Nook from Nook Pod • the FuZion Sit to Stand desks for students and teachers and the Rover Table mobile makerspace unit from Haskell Education (see more on pages 38). The awards were presented by the Education Market Association in partnership with Learning by Design magazine. A panel of judges chose the winners from among the new, sale-ready products presented at EDspaces based on the following characteristics. 1. Innovative 2. Rigor in design for education environments 3. Appropriateness for the age of the learner 4. Meets the needs of specific settings or activities 5. Is based on research and customer collaboration 6. Has a level of certification 7. Is sustainable and appealing to end users In April, office furniture powerhouse Herman Miller reached an agreement to acquire contract-office-furniture specialist Knoll in a cash and stock transaction valued at $1.8 billion, reports Furniture Today. The transaction is expected to close by the third quarter. Combined, the two companies have 19 brands with a presence across 100 countries, a global dealer network, 64 showrooms globally and more than 50 physical retail locations. They each also have global multichannel e-commerce capabilities. “As distributed working models become the new normal for companies, businesses are reimagining the office to foster collaboration, culture and focused work, while supporting a growing remote employee base,” said Andi Owen, president and CEO of Herman Miller. “At the same time, consumers are making significant investments in their homes.” Following the closing of the sale, Owen will serve as president and CEO of the combined company.

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While both companies are leaders in office furniture, each one is a specialist in different furniture products: Herman Miller has the best-selling office chair in the world, and Knoll makes the world’s most recognizable table, notes The Motley Fool. “So, it’s fair to say that the deal will create a more diversified leader in the office furniture space.” There are important implications for the general office industry in the acquisition, writes “Fool” contributor Matt Frankel, CFP. First, Herman Miller doesn’t see the demand for office furniture disappearing. “Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, and Netflix have said that they want their workers back in offices, and tech giants like Alphabet and Amazon have invested in expanding – not reducing – their office footprints,” he reports. “Second, while office work will exist, Herman Miller believes the office of the future will look very different and that presents a huge opportunity,” Frankel adds. “In other words, signs are increasingly pointing to a hybrid work environment. “Arrangements where employees work remotely some of the time and in the office some of the time will be the new normal,” he concludes. “So, Herman Miller sees a wave of investment in restructuring in-person office environments to comply with not only social distancing guidelines but ‘remote-first’ work arrangements as well, and also sees the increasing need for permanent home-office setups, both of which are conducive to a rise in spending on office furniture for the next few years.” The MadeinAmerica.com Show, the nation’s only trade show devoted to showcasing American-made products, will be held from October 1 through October 3 at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville. “The pandemic proved that relying on foreign supply chains creates chaos. Then, the Suez Canal crisis made the problem even clearer,” says MadeInAmerica.com CEO Don Buckner. “Now, domesticating supply chains is a top priority for wholesalers and retailers, and we’re happy to connect purchasing agents with manufacturers based right here in their own country.” Event organizers carefully vet every seller to ensure they meet stringent made-in-America guidelines, Buckner adds. Research from Consumer Reports reveals that eight in 10 American consumers would rather buy an American-made product than an imported one, and most say they’re willing to pay more for it. That’s good news for people who work in manufacturing, notes Buckner. “For every one person employed in manufacturing, there are another five employees hired elsewhere in the community. The cycle ripples through local economies, state economies and the national economy as manufacturing leads to job creation in other sectors, such as transportation and business services.” Every dollar spent in manufacturing adds $2.74 to the economy, according to the National Association of Manufacturing.

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Business NOTES Here’s a Reminder to Protect Your Data May 6 was World Password Day, designed to remind us that the first line of defense against ransomware, spyware, and other bad actors is a strong password. Never have our

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passwords been more important than in the past year, say experts, pointing to the spike in cyberattacks around the world. The annual report on America’s password habits and strategies from Security.org revealed that in the U.S., 14 percent of us used “COVID” in our passwords, 21 percent used “Trump” or “Biden,” and 20 percent used a curse word – practices that run contrary to the rules of successful password selection. The cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline in May is an example of what can happen when a private company falls short on ransomware prevention. Stronger security protocols and better preparation efforts may have prevented the attack, reports CNN, citing officials familiar with the government’s initial investigation into the incident. Experts from cyber security solutions company StorCentric recently discussed the security steps that come after proper password protection. “With millions of workers around the world accessing their organization’s data remotely last year, data protection was put under increased pressure,” notes says JG Heithcock, GM of backup software company Retrospect, a StorCentric subsidiary. (A global survey conducted by Gartner revealed that 88 percent of business organizations mandated or

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encouraged employees to work from home as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.) “For many, the answer was to employ a strong password – oftentimes requesting that employees use a random mix of no less than 15 characters!” he continued. “Unfortunately, many learned the hard way that it was not enough to stop today’s increasingly determined and aggressive cyber-criminals. “Given that the work-from-home paradigm will likely endure, it is clear that stronger measures must also be taken,” Heithcock adds. “The next step in the data protection and business continuity process for virtually any organization (or personally, for that matter) is an effective backup strategy.” He recommends a simple 3-2-1 game plan that saves data in at least three locations: one on the computer, one on easy-to-access local storage, and another on offsite storage. “The options range from local disk to removable media to the cloud and even tape,” he notes. “If at least one copy is ‘air-gapped,’ meaning completely unplugged from the network, all the better.” Surya Varanasi, StorCentric CTO, made this recommendation: “Employ a strategy that enables you to unobtrusively offload data from what is likely expensive primary storage to a cost-effective storage solution. It should be engineered specifically to be regulatory compliant and tamper-proof from even the harshest ransomware attacks.” Backups have become the latest malware target, he cautions, “So your storage platform should include ‘unbreakable backup’ – an active data vault that creates an immutable copy, which makes recovery of unaltered files fast and easy. That way, there is zero operation disruption and never any need to pay ransom.”

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Declining Population Numbers have Pros, but More Cons The U.S. population grew by only 7.4 percent over the past decade, reports The New York Times. According to Census Bureau, that’s the smallest increase since the 1930s. Times reporter David Leonhardt recently discussed the reasons behind the population slowdown, and listed both the upsides and downsides to slower population growth. The declining birthrate is the biggest reason for the slowdown. “There are now more Americans 80 and older than age 2 or younger,” he writes. Compared to 1990, today’s average American adult of childrearing age has 17-percent fewer children. Compared to 1960, it’s about 50-percent fewer. The U.S. fertility rate right now is higher than Japan and Germany, in the same range as Britain and Sweden, and below France and Ireland. The decline in legal immigration during the Trump presidency further slowed down population growth. The upsides of a slower birthrate may include expanded economic opportunities for women, who have had to contend with “flimsy’ childcare options in the U.S., Leonhardt writes. Historically, birthrates have declined as societies become more educated and wealthier. “Lower levels of immigration can also have upsides,” he adds, explaining that tight immigration restrictions played a role in the big wage gains for American workers during the mid-20th century. “But overall, the slowdown in population growth is probably a net negative for the U.S.,” states the article. Surveys indicate that many Americans want more children, but slow-growing incomes and a shortage

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Business NOTES of good childcare options have led some experts to conclude that they cannot afford as many children as they would like. Slow population growth may also be a threat to national security, he adds. “Population growth, in turn, helps determine economic growth, especially in an advanced economy. To have any hope of keeping up with China and its vastly larger population, the U.S. will probably need bigger population increases than it has recently had.”

Signs of a Shift to In-store Shopping; Fashion Becomes Important Again E-commerce has slowed and expendable cash from stimulus checks has dwindled, but analysts are reporting that store traffic is up, inventory is lean, and margins are fatter, reports Retail Dive. In the U.S., several clothing retailers and brands have cause to celebrate. Consumers are interested in style again and are receptive to fashion brands. “We’re redefining what is fashionable, so it gives a new opportunity to stores or brands to shout out and tell people that you know what they should be wearing,” Tom Ott told Retail Dive. The former chief merchant of Saks Off 5th, general merchandise manager for men’s at Saks Fifth Avenue, and founder of retail consultancy Retail and Fashion Solutions said, “Where does that come from? Experience and fashion sense. There’s no textbook that you can pull off the shelf, it’s kind of seeing things, feeling things and deciphering for the future.” Among the 65 retailers tracked by Wells Fargo, online sales in categories like apparel flattened in recent weeks with stores and malls open and more people shopping in person. “Online growth actually fell during April, probably because relief checks were running out and due to comparisons to an unusual 2020,” wrote reporter Daphne Howland. “But a portion of the shift will likely stick, according to several reports.” During recent checks at physical stores, analysts found “ongoing store traffic improvements that began a few months ago, though we believe trends still remain well below 2019 levels,” says Wells Fargo analyst Ike Boruchow. “We believe the vaccine rollout and the anticipation of a more normalized environment – people returning to the office, in-person gatherings – coupled with a healthy consumer and macro-economic backdrop is driving the traffic. But in terms of e-commerce growth, Wells Fargo analysts estimate that in 2020, four to five years’ worth of penetration growth was pulled forward into a single year. “While e-commerce growth will likely moderate from 2020 levels, we continue to see a path toward 50 percent or more penetration for the channel over the next several years,” he adds.

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1. Adorable 144-page activity books are designed to captivate, engage, and motivate children. With everything from alphabet, number, and word recognition, to sorting and matching, mazes, and more, these workbooks make learning and practicing essential skills both challenging and fun. scholastic.com/trcatalog

2. Toddlers aged 12 months+ will sort and stack these cute wooden blocks from Learning Advantage in order of size and lifecycle stages. Includes labeled illustrations of four creatures. learningadvantage. com

3. New Targeted Trend of our time. Let’s “Face It,” the facts are we can do this together. These bright, D2589 rainbow pencils from Musgrave will remind you to do your part. Stay safe, stay healthy. pencils.net

4. Announcing the American Sign Language Desk Prompt from North Star Teacher Resources. This latest addition to our lineup of adhesive desk prompts provides a quick reference when adhered to desks, table tops, notebooks, and more. Look for this and other titles in our latest catalog. nstresources.com.

5. Sandtastik’s ultra-finegrade Air Dry Modeling Clay, It comes from quarried and professionally processed ingredients for a smooth, easily workable material. Available in White, Terracotta and Black and a variety of sizes and bricks. Ready to use right out of the package for children ages 4+. Certified nontoxic and conforms to CPSIA. sandtastikproducts.com

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6. The 204-piece Observation Puzzle My Body by Banana Panda depicts the major organs and systems. After they put it together, kids in grades 2-6 can find the 70 elements featured in the picture frame. Comes with a large doublesided poster that features lots of interesting facts about the human body. bananapanda.com

7. C-Line’s Dry Erase Board and Dry Erase Paddle are both lined on the front side for practicing writing skills or for holding up an answer. They’re blank on the back side for free learning and creative drawing. Simply Write On and Wipe Off with a low-odor dry-erase marker. 800-323-6084 customerservice@ c-line.com

8. THE TRUTH ABOUT Book Series from Newmark Learning offers close-up photos and question-and-answer formats that spark young readers’ curiosity about animals. info@newmarklearning.com 9. In the fun Hoyle Super Me game, players win by empathizing with those in need, identifying solutions, and jumping in to lend a helping hand. carrie.devillez@ usplayingcard.com

10. Removable Mounting Tabs from Miller Studio are perfect for school, office and dorms! The value pack includes 480 tabs, size 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch. Hang posters, charts, calendars and more. They’re easily removable and don’t damage walls. magicmounts.com

11. Eureka’s bestselling Tub of Letter Tiles is the perfect tool for teaching letter recognition and spelling! The musthave manipulative for the classroom is great for at-home practice as well! Contains 176 1-inch plastic letters of the alphabet tiles, upper and lowercase. 1-866-394-5047 eurekaschool.com

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12. Choose from Kardwell International’s full line of Branded Dominoes. Custom Imprinted Domino Sets have imprinted individual tiles and imprinted wood boxes or snap-shut vinyl cases. Available with your choice of ivory, green, or red tiles. Imprinted Mini Domino Sets feature ivory-colored tiles. They are available with your logo imprinted on the top of each snap-shut vinyl case. gameparts.net

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15. Bestselling Word of the Day from Primary Concepts should be on your Back-to-School list! Each rich oral vocabulary lesson begins with a Word Story, and then children are invited to answer questions and think about what the word means. Interactive activities like acting out the meaning, drawing pictures, and finding ways to use each word help make the words meaningful. Spiral bound, 192 pages, for K-3. #1272 $15.99 SRP. primaryconceptsdealer.com

16. Fidget Box Fidget Tools from Teacher Created Resources cannot only help reduce stress and anxiety, they are also great for improving finemotor skills, coordination, and dexterity. They help develop focus, attention, and staying calm, especially for students who have extra energy and hyperactivity. Includes 18 assorted sensory fidget tools. tcrdealer.com

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Cool Hot innovations in the furniture and equipment category 1. Aarco’s Heavy Duty Reversible Markerboards are robust and versatile! Customers have the choice of a lightduty melamine or heavy-duty porcelain writing surface. aarcoproducts.com

2. Wiggle Feet by Bouncyband enables excess energy to be expelled while working. The deep pressure fosters greater focus while alleviating anxiety, hyperactivity and boredom. bouncyband.com

3. Help teachers and students keep their classrooms safe by following CDC recommendations with the new Time Timer WASH – a touchless visual timer for handwashing. support@timetimer. com timetimer.com/distributors 4. Haskell Education’s Fuzion sit-to-stand is perfect for today’s activelearning classroom. Our 20-year warranty on the height adjustment ensures years of use, fostering greater student engagement. haskelleducation.com/sit-tostand/

Back-to-School Special! Keep students and teachers safe when school gets back in session. Save 10% off published wholesale pricing on the NEW Time Timer WASH visual handwashing timer. Case pack minimum required. Not combinable with any other offers or discounts. Limited time only. While supplies last.

Back-to-School Special! Earn a $10 SPIFF on each Sit-To-Stand unit from our Fuzion line, including Quick Ship models. SPIFF program is in effect through the end of the year. Register at haskelleducation.com/ rewards

5. Sit down comfortably with the Teacher’s Extra Wide Glider WD89118 from Wood Designs. The tip-resistant browncushioned rocking chair glides smoothly and quietly, and is uniquely designed to help protect little toes and fingers. wooddesigns.com 32 June 2021 — EducationalDealerMagazine.com

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6. Based on demand, Screenflex is offering Fully Frosted and Half Frosted Dividers. They’re portable, easy-to-use and versatile, and available in one height – 6 feet 2 inches – and two lengths: 3 feet 4 inches and 10 feet. Made in the USA, the dividers earned a 4.9 Google rating, so you know they are quality made. Contact Kevin Maas for more information. 800-553-0110 kmaas@screenflex.com

Back-to-School Special! MakerTron has an Introductory List Price of $3,995 for a limited time only. Sold exclusively through dealers. 440-226-3712. pedagogyfurniture.com

7. The Award Winning MakerTron Makerspace Cabinet from Pedagogy Furniture is the perfect solution to bring the STEM/ STEAM experience into the classroom. The fully collapsible unit extends to provide 93.5 inches of workspace. It can easily fit through most doors to be transported from space to space. pedagogyfurniture.com 8. The Klean-Kart from Marco Group Inc. is a mobile sanitation solution for storing and distributing hand sanitizers, tissues and disinfectant wipes (trash can sold separately). marcogroupinc.com

9. My Lively City Play Carpet from Children’s Factory is designed for pretend play with cars, trucks, and other accessories. Loop pile play carpets are water and fade resistant. childrensfactory.com

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Cool Hot 10. Keep your STEAM or PPE supplies handy and organized with the Jonti-Craft Mini STEAM Multimedia Cart. It features three Cubbie-Trays and a large Tote! jonti-craft.com 11. The Single Basin Self-Contained Portable Handwashing and Sanitizing Station, model HWS-009S from MONSAM, comes with all the sanitizing items needed to stay safe, including an antibacterial countertop and hot/cold running water. 12. The OPCOM GrowWall3 from FullCircle26 is an all-in-one hydroponics Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) growing system designed for indoor farming year-round. With up to 180 planting holes, it can grow plants abundantly and efficiently. fullcircle26inc.com

Back-to-School Special $100 off shipping on your first order! portablesink.com sales@ portablesink.com

11 Back-to-School Special Use Promo Code FC26I-EDU21 for 5% OFF a Hydroponic System! Expires 12/31/2021.discounts. Limited time only. While supplies last.

13. AWT World Trade offers Drying and Storage Racks for all budgets and applications. You won’t find a wider selection of drying and storage racks anywhere. They have hundreds of uses for drying, storing, and transporting rigid or semi-rigid objects and are perfect for classrooms, workshops, studios, homes, print shops or offices. sales@dryingandstorageracks.com dryingandstorageracks.com

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Hydroponics: A Good Fit for STEM Education (continued from page 19) and to teach them about healthy eating. We’re working with a chef in Texas right now who teaches nutrition. We were delighted to receive letters this week from customers in Kodiak, Alaska. A high school is using our Grow Wall 3 as part of a skills-based curriculum teaching students with special needs. They’re doing outstanding! A high school in Vermont just bought one of our Pallet high-capacity systems – brand-new this year. The school is in a farming community and is also equipped with greenhouses, barns for livestock, and aquaponics, which is fish. They’re passing on innovative agricultural skills to a new generation. Hydroponic systems check every box in terms of education, from plant biology to tech and social skills. Jannie Wray, our director of program and training development, made sure our plant-growing curriculum includes all sorts of opportunities for teaching – teaching seed identification and harvest, of course, but also how to research and make presentations. What can your systems grow? Depending on the unit, you can grow just about everything, including greens, tomatoes, cucumbers and fruit. I grew a cantaloupe using seeds from a store-bought melon! People who have units in their homes tell us they grow strawberries and mixed greens – lettuce, collard greens, bok choy. From school kids we found out the units can grow root vegetables and flowers. What are your bestsellers in the education market? The Tabletop Growbox is the most popular with elementary schools. Each child is given a spot, and they can nurture what they planted from seed to harvest. It’s easy to teach from because it’s kid-accessible. Our Growbox 2, a stackable unit that we call “the workhorse” is also a hot seller. What would you like educational dealers to know about FullCircle26? 1. That selling hydroponic systems to schools is a huge opportunity for them, and 2. We’re ready to work with them. It’s one of the reasons we advertise with Educational Dealer magazine – to let them know hydroponics is a viable area for them, especially in the way it complements STEM curriculums in schools. Currently we work with distributors – Nasco is the biggest – and we attend ECRM. Our products are also featured on rangeme.com, the product discovery and sourcing platform that many retailers use to find good ideas. We’ve created a retail program with point-of-purchase displays, and our systems are in some stores that sell growing products. I’d like to get dealers and teacher stores selling our products, too. Not only are our systems used for teaching purposes, they’re also used to improve air quality, and in some cases to feed the students. And they’re also used for aesthetics and lighting! As architects and school planners look at the future of our nation’s schools, we have some catching up to do in terms of green walls. Recently, some designers from Canada reached out to me about utilizing our units, in all sizes, as sustainable LED lights. Sustainability in school design and architecture – I definitely see hydroponics as part of that mix. To see the full line of Opcom hydroponic solutions, visit fullcircle26inc.com. June 2021 — EducationalDealerMagazine.com 35

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EDspaces

(continued from page 11)

Company

with the architects and designers in the education space. Nurturing connections opens doors at optimal times during specification and buying cycles. In this session, an expert panel of architects specializing in education needs will discuss what they seek in distributors and vendors. You’ll gain insights about positioning your firm as a resource for the design community to create and furnish the best spaces for learning. From this informative panel discussion, you’ll walk away with tools for success. Panelists include Wendy Watts, IIDA, a Principal, Education Design, at Wight & Company; Anna Kowalczyk, BAAID, ARIDO, IDC, LEED® AP ID+C, president and founding principal of Daedal Design; and Sylvia Kowalk, Associate AIA, LEED AP ID+C, a principal and director of interior design who leads Legat’s interior design practice. Off the clock The EDfest All Industry Party, always beloved by attendees, is scheduled for Thursday, November 4, from 5 to 8 p.m. It’s the premier networking night of EDspaces and guaranteed to be a celebration in a year in which human connections are prized above all else.

A DV E R T I SE R I N D E X Page

Website

Aarco Products 22 aarcoproducts.com AWT World Trade 24 awt-gpi.com Banana Panda 15 bananapanda.com Bouncy Bands 17 bouncyband.com C-Line Products 38 c-lineproducts.com Certwood Ltd Inside Back Cover certwood.com Childbrite by Manta-Ray 27 childbrite.com Children’s Factory 19 childrensfactory.com E-Z Grader 18 ezgrader.com Educators Resource 27 erdealer.com Emerald 9 emeraldx.com Eureka / Css Industries 14 eurekaschool.com Full Circle 26 24 fullcircle26inc.com Glo Germ Company 5 glogerm.com 17 haskelloffice.com Haskell Education Jonti-Craft 5 jonti-craft.com Kardwell International 21 gameparts.net 26 koplowgames.com Koplow Kore Design LLC 13, 19, 23, 28 korestool.com 23 learningadvantage.com Learning Advantage Marco Group Inc. Back Cover marcogroupinc.com 28 magicmounts.com Miller Studio Inc. 22 portablesink.com Monsam Portable Sinks Musgrave Pencil 35 pencils.net Newmark Learning 3, 25 newmarklearning.com 26 nstresources.com North Star Teacher Resources Petagogy Furniture 6 pedagogyfurniture.com Primary Concepts 7 primaryconceptsdealer.com Romanoff Products 6 romanoffproducts.com Sandtastik 38 sandtastik.com Scholastic Teacher Resources 20 scholastic.com Screenflex Portable Partitions 8 dealersf.com Teacher Created Resources 11 teachercreated.com The United States Playing Card Company Inside Front Cover usplayingcard.com Time Timer LLC 10 timetimer.com Wikki Stix 16 wikkistix.com Wood Designs 13 wooddesigns.com

Ed Dealer Welcomes Six New Advertisers Aarco Products has manufactured a full range of visual communication products since 1975 using the best and most durable components. It produces custom products with a special measure of consistency and affordability. Banana Panda puzzles, games and books are designed and manufactured in Europe. Ideas are born in its family-run studio and made real by a team of illustrators, designers, projects managers and educators.

Event producer Emerald, owner of EDspaces scheduled this November in Pittsburgh, will hold its biennial NY NOW show in August – the first major event to run at New York’s reopened Javits Center. Haskell Education in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, designs and manufactures high-quality furniture for business, education, government and institutional enterprises. Its reputation is built on outstanding customer service, superior manufacturing, and comprehensive corporate responsibility.

Kardwell International, founded in 1976, offers eye-catching promotional products, custom playing cards and custom gifts and casino supplies that meet every need and budget. It prides itself on fast order turnaround and high quality. Pedagogy Furniture is for teachers and often designed by teachers. Its award-winning MakerTron MakerSpace Cabinet is a fully collapsible mobile unit that unfolds to offer 93.5 inches of work space.

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ENDCAP

(continued from page 38) rooms for a more immersive experience. And while there are numerous benefits to these types of spaces, we saw opportunities for improvement. Through our research, we identified a number of constraints to dedicated maker spaces, the least of which was the reality that many schools simply do not have any extra space to dedicate to them. Successful maker programs typically require two things: large format tables where work can be spread out, and copious amounts of storage for all the necessary materials needed. Finding rooms large enough to accommodate these needs is difficult at best. But what if we could – by easily bringing these tools into the classroom – convert any space into a maker space? The Rover Table was the solution, and schools have responded beyond our wildest imagination. The brilliance behind the Rover Table is simple. Its design incorporates a large-format worktop (84 by 42 inches) that’s engineered to fit through a standard 30- or 36inch door. What’s more, when the butcher block worktop is flipped up and folded to the side of the table, there is room to tuck six stools in between two storage modules. That way, the entire ensemble can be easily transported by a single student or teacher from classroom to classroom. Or outdoors! Or into the gym! Or any place where maker activities are desired. LEARN. THINK. DO. Another constraint we saw was the sheer cost of setting up a dedicated maker space. For many schools, their budgets simply do not allow for these types of expenditures; denying students the real benefits of engaging in a maker program. With the Rover Table, schools can ramp up their maker programs at a much lower cost and, at the same time, extend the experience to a greater number of students. This creates equity on multiple levels while providing the

Ad Sales Representative Darlene Ryan darlene@fwpi.com

A powerful mobile maker space – With six duplex outlets, four USB connections and an integrated power cord, the Rover Table can be quickly powered up for a full range of creative activities. Then unplug to transport it easily across the hall or across the district. It’s an ideal solution for a shared Maker curriculum.

opportunity for increased student engagement. One of the biggest benefits of our research into the maker movement has been our deeper understanding of student engagement and current classroom design strategies. Our big “Aha!” moment came when we realized how extremely engaged students were while participating in maker activities … and how separating these activities away from the classroom had the potential to limit the powerful benefits that come with this level of engagement. We asked ourselves, why can’t learning, thinking and doing all happen in a harmonious way, in one environment, in the same space of time? We realized it could, and our classroom strategy of LEARN.THINK. DO. was born. It’s a powerful concept that is opening up doors at school districts across the country. We would encourage anyone who is interested in more information around this strategy or any of our unique products to reach out to us at sales@haskelleducation.com .

Advertising Director Tim Braden tbraden@fwpi.com

Production Manager Mark Stash mstash@fwpi.com

Publisher J. Kevin Fahy kfahy@fwpi.com

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

Subscriptions accounts@fwpi.com

Editorial Director Tina Manzer tmanzer@fwpi.com

Graphic Artist Christopher Cornett Christopher@fwpi.com

Editorial Offices PO Box 1080 171 Reed St. Geneva, NY 14456 800-344-0559 315-789-0458 FAX: 315-789-4263

About Fahy-Williams Founded in 1984, Fahy-Williams Publishing specializes in magazines, directories, e-newsletters and other promotional material for a wide variety of niche markets.

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School Furniture Solutions that Remove Barriers to Learning

With its dynamic height range of 28.25 to 42 inches, Haskell’s award-winning Fuzion sit-to-stand desk is appropriate for schools pre-K to higher education.

by John Myers, Director of Marketing & Training, Haskell Education

For more than 70 years, the Haskell name has been synonymous with high quality furniture for the education market. We see Haskell products that were produced decades ago still serving schools in their everyday use. We are very proud of our heritage and the part Haskell has played in the world of education.

And yet, as we observed the rapidly changing landscape of education combined with dynamic shifts in curriculum, we saw an opportunity to challenge ourselves in the re-shaping of our company to better serve our core customers. The emergence of active learning environments in conjunction with powerful STEM/STEAM programs has generated new ways of thinking about the role furniture plays in the learning outcomes of today’s students. Since 2014, we have designed and launched more than 25 new products specifically engineered for studentcentered learning. In 2019 we added education to our name, becoming Haskell Education. That same year,

we launched our new website, haskelleducation.com, to better reflect our focus on the design of NextGen learning products. It has been a very exciting time for Haskell Education with tremendous growth and numerous awards for our product designs. The design of these new products for schools provides us with a unique opportunity to respond to the educational, social and emotional needs of today’s learners. We believe that well-designed learning environments play an integral role in both the success of the educational process, and in driving greater student engagement. And when students are more engaged, learning outcomes improve. Prevailing over constraints A great example of this is our award-winning Rover Table. As part of our Explorer collection, the Rover Table was designed to bring the maker experience to the students instead of the other way around. Our paradigm up to that point was thinking of maker spaces as a static, dedicated environment. Teachers would need to schedule or reserve time for these spaces and students would “travel” to these (continued on page 37)

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38 June 2021 — EducationalDealerMagazine.com

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Storage must be durable, purposeful, agile and most importantly needs to be segregated or isolated. This “Design Lab” is successful in maintaining heightened agility because every resource is managed in one systematic location. Labeled resources are organized in various heights, depths and widths. Certwood’s StorSystemTM solutions are intentionally positioned at the centralized core of this mobile lab as resources are selected, transferred, utilized only to be repositioned at the end of class.

email: Info@Certwood.com

web: www.CertwoodUSA.com

Certwood USA Ohio Distribution Center 11 Technology Way Wintersville OH, 43952 Office: 740 314 5874

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Certwood UK Laporte Way Luton Bedfordshire LU4 8EF Office +44 (0) 1582 456 955

5/25/21 12:11 PM

Desks shown are: Premier Gem Desks with White Dry Erase tabletops, Gray edge banding and Gray standard height legs with casters.

Premier™ Series

Desks & Tables

– Available with Select Laminates –

Looking to upgrade your classroom furniture? Check out our Premier Series Desks & Tables at

www.marcogroupinc.com or call 1-888-627-2601

Tables shown are: Premier Scoop Tables with Gray Nebula tabletops, Black edge banding and Black standing height legs.

See our full line of school furniture at

www.marcogroupinc.com @marcogroupincneosho

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