Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

VS America to Discuss How Physical Spaces Impact Student Well-Being

  • By Matt Jones
  • 03/09/21

VS America, a full-service manufacturer of school and office furniture, will host a webinar on Friday, March 19, discussing the opportunities and obstacles facing students as they return to school. The conversation will feature four panelists and focus on the impact of physical learning spaces on students’ mental and emotional well-being.

A survey of high-school students conducted by America’s Promise Alliance has revealed the various negative effects of COVID-19 in areas like social connection, emotional health, and learning time. Results show that 29% of students surveyed don’t feel connected to others, while 25% have difficulty sleeping due to negative emotions and 38% are concerned about their present and future education opportunities. The return to in-person learning, in other words, will entail much more than just catching up on the finer points of trigonometry.

Student well-being webinar

The webinar’s panelists include:

  • Dr. RJ Webber, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction at Novi Community Schools in Novi, Mich.
  • Dr. Caelan Soma, Chief Clinical Officer and Senior Trainer at Starr Commonwealth
  • Jill Ackers, Learning Designer at Fielding International
  • Roger B. Fisher, Associate Director of the Program on Intergroup Relations (IGR) at the University of Michigan

According to a press release, the webinar is slated to cover “how schools can create spaces to allow for the healing and connectivity needed.”

You can register here to attend. Attendees will also receive a free 6-month subscription to Starr Commonwealth’s “on-demand, trauma-informed, resilience-focused professional development.” The event will take place from 12:00–1:30 p.m. Eastern Time (9:00–10:30 a.m. Pacific Time) on Friday, March 19.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Designing Third Spaces That Do What AI Can't

    In 2026, education is evolving faster than ever. With AI reshaping everything from lesson planning to personalized instruction, schools and universities are turning their attention to what AI can’t replicate: spaces that foster collaboration, community, and creativity.

  • Georgia State University Opens New Research Tower

    Georgia State University in Atlanta, Ga., recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new, nine-story, 155,000-square-foot Research Tower, according to university news. Amenities include academic classrooms, a large lecture space, teaching labs, faculty research space, and the uppermost floors reserved for future expansion.

  • Missouri K–12 District Cuts Ribbons on Two New Middle Schools

    Springfield Public Schools in Springfield, Mo., recently celebrated the completion of two new middle school facilities with ribbon-cutting ceremonies, according to a district news release. The district officially opened the new Pipkin Middle School and Reed Academy on Sept. 3, both of which were funded through the $220-million Proposition S bond program approved by voters in 2023.

  • Construction Begins on 100+ Acre K–12 Campus Designed for Lakota Culture

    The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (CRST) and the Cheyenne-Eagle Butte School District in Eagle Butte, S.D., recently broke ground on a new K–12 campus that will cover more than 100 acres and serve students and families across 1,600 square miles, according to a news release.