Scott Layne Named Chair of the Association For Learning Environments

San Diego — The Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) has named Scott Layne, ALEP, chair of its board of directors. Layne, who is the assistant superintendent for support services for the Irving Independent School District (ISD) in Texas, assumed the role at the LearningSCAPES Conference held Oct. 22-26.

At Irving ISD, Layne oversees facilities services, security, transportation, nutrition services, health services, technology, athletics, and construction.  After receiving his degree in Architectural Studies from the University of Illinois, his career in public education began in the Katy Independent School District in 1982.  Six years later, he was named the director of school plant services for Midland ISD.  In 1991, he joined Irving ISD, where he has served as assistant director of maintenance and operations, director of maintenance and operations, and executive director of facilities before being named assistant superintendent in 2006.

An active member of A4LE since 1998, Layne has served as the 2003 president of the North Texas Chapter, and the 2007 president of the Southern Region.  He has served on the International Board of Directors since 2009.  In his new role as chair, he hopes to expand the association’s global reach.

“The Association for Learning Environments is as strong as our members,” he says. “I am confident that we will continue the great work that has brought us to this moment, and I know that we will forge new paths of excellence into the future.”

The Association for Learning Environments (A4LE), formerly the Council of Educational Facility Planners (CEFPI), is the only professional organization whose primary purpose is improving the places where children learn.  With approximately 4,400 members, A4LE encompasses six geographic regions across the United States, and supports regional representation in Canada, Australasia, and the UK.  A4LE embraces a collaborative network of professionals with one single goal – building healthy, safe, resilient and sustainable 21st Century learning places that inspire transformation in education, enhance student and teacher performance, and support culture and community vitality. To learn more, visit www.a4le.org.

Featured

  • School Construction Projects Boom as Education Systems Address Aging Facilities and Growth

    Construction opportunities are almost always abundant, but currently there are more than usual construction projects being launched for public school campuses. Common objectives include major renovation or expansion of aging facilities, total replacement of inefficient classrooms, upgrades to lighting, technology, and security equipment, and adding new sports and cultural facilities.

  • Ancient Resilience: How Indigenous Intelligence Shapes the 4Roots Education Building

    As climate change intensifies, educational spaces must evolve beyond basic sustainability toward true resilience – we must design environments that can adapt, respond, and thrive amid shifting, and intensifying, climate hazards. Drawing on indigenous wisdom and nature-based strategies, integrating resilient design offers a path to create learning environments that are not only functional but deeply in tune with their natural surroundings.

  • New Kent State Academic Building Earns LEED Silver Certification

    Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, recently announced that its newest academic building, Crawford Hall, has earned a LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, according to a news release. The facility was recognized for its innovative design, water conservation technologies, energy-efficient systems, and sustainable construction materials, among other features.

  • cutaway view of a modern school building, showing various rooms and zones

    Layering AI into HVAC Systems Shows Reduction in Carbon Emissions

    Heating and cooling systems are just one of the many new ways that AI can be integrated into schools. According to a new study from Schneider Electric's Sustainability Research Institute, AI-powered HVAC systems in schools can lead to significant carbon emissions savings.

Digital Edition