2024-25 Season Update
Participate in the 2024-25 Architects in Schools season! Every year we update our program to better serve students, assist teachers, and engage volunteer design/building professionals and college design students. This year, we are expanding the ways in which teachers and volunteers can participate in our free program.
An Architects in Schools residency can take many forms, including but not limited to:
- A six-week, six-session residency where the design/building professional visits the classroom for one hour per week (our most popular residency format!)
- A two-day workshop where the design/building professional visits the classroom for a couple hours over two consecutive days
- An hour-long career presentation by a design/building professional
- A three-week, three-session residency where the design/building professional engages students virtually while they are together in one classroom
- A four-week, four-session residency where the design/building professional engages students virtually while they are also virtual
- And more!
If there is another way that you would like to participate, let’s explore it! We are prepared to support each class’s individual needs and can adapt the program to fit any class structure, whether a class is in-person, hybrid, virtual, or another format.
In addition, we have added a new option for teachers and volunteers who would like to participate in a residency during the fall (rather than during the winter/spring). See additional information on fall residencies, below.
Participate in the 2024-25 Season
Below are details on how you can participate or volunteer in the 2024-25 AiS season. If you have an idea about how to participate this school year that is not listed, please contact AFO staff.
Questions about the program or application process? Contact Kim Knowles, kim@af-oregon.org, 503-317-7537.
Fall Residencies *NEW!*
We understand that many teachers are unable to implement AiS programming during winter and spring terms due to pre-established schedules and conflicts. Our new option allows teachers to implement AiS programming in the fall, making our program available during all school-year terms – fall, winter, and spring (plus our summer camp!).
We are also seeking design/building professionals and design student volunteers who are available in the fall to help serve these classrooms.
All new AiS teachers and volunteers who have a fall residency will be asked to complete our self-paced LearnDash orientation course prior to participating.
Application Deadlines for Fall Residencies
Teachers: Sunday, September 22, 2024
Volunteers: Please apply as soon as possible
Teachers, please keep in mind that we will work with you to make AiS work for your classroom, no matter if you are teaching in-person or virtually. If you are new to AiS and have any questions about how to make it work in your classroom, please contact AFO staff so we can assist you.
We highly encourage first-time AiS teachers, who apply to partner with a design/building professional, to participate in an orientation in the fall. Scroll down for more information on AiS orientations.
If you choose options that involve a partnership, AFO staff will match you with a design/building professional who requests similar participation options. We offer support for partnerships and assist your team with planning sessions to make sure AiS is best serving you and your students.
Teachers who complete a 6-week in-person or virtual residency will be eligible to receive graduate credit.
When you apply, you will be able to select one or more of the following options for participating in AiS:
- In-Person Residency including 1-2 or 3-6 sessions with a design/building professional
- Virtual Residency including 1-6 sessions with a design/building professional while they are virtual and students are in-classroom
- Virtual Residency including 1-6 sessions with a design/building professional while they and the students are all virtual
- Implement AiS materials without a design/building professional (option to schedule a one-time planning consultation with a professional)
The 2024-25 teacher application will open on August 1. Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated.
Watch our Virtual Lunch & Learn to learn more about volunteering for AiS.
Design/building professionals, architecture students, and engineering students, we want to make sure you feel confident and comfortable about participating, so please contact AFO staff if you have any concerns.
First-time AiS volunteers are required to participate in an orientation in the fall. We also highly recommend that all volunteers (new and returning) attend our trauma workshop. This training will prepare you to work with youth of all different backgrounds. Scroll down for more information on AiS orientations and trauma workshops.
After you apply, AFO staff will match you with a teacher who requests similar options. We offer support and assist your team with planning sessions to make sure AiS is best serving you, your teacher partner, and the students.
When you apply, you will be able to select one or more of the following options for participating in AiS:
- In-Person Residency including 1-2 or 3-6 sessions in the classroom
- Virtual Residency including 1-6 sessions while you are virtual and students are in-classroom
- Virtual Residency including 1-6 sessions while you and the students are all virtual
Virtual Residencies
Please note, if you sign up to participate in AiS virtually, you may be placed with any school around Oregon that is also participating virtually. Virtual participation allows us to reach students in geographic areas that are typically hard for us to access through in-person residencies. By participating virtually, you are helping make AiS more accessible to students that might not normally receive programming like this or have exposure to professionals in the field!
Virtual sessions will occur through the web-based platform used by the school you are paired with, since it will already be set up for the students and vetted according to district guidelines.
The 2024-25 volunteer application will open on August 1. Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated.
Online Orientations & Trauma Workshops
Teachers: We recommend all first-time participants (only including teachers who apply to partner with a design/building professional) attend a 1.5-hour live virtual orientation, designed to help you have the best experience with AiS. If you cannot attend one of the scheduled live orientations or plan to participate in a fall residency, a self-paced LearnDash orientation course is available. Teachers will also have access to our free trauma workshop in case you do not have access to such trainings through your school or district.
Design/Building Professional & Design Student Volunteers: All first-time volunteers are required to attend a 1.5-hour virtual orientation (or complete our self-paced LearnDash orientation course if you are participating in a fall residency). In addition, we require all volunteers, new and returning, to attend our trauma workshop. The orientation and workshop will prepare you for working in the classroom and with students of all different backgrounds.
Orientation Dates: Please plan to complete one of the following online orientation options if you are new to the program. If you are new and have concerns about completing an orientation, please notify AFO staff after applying so we can find a solution that will work for you.
- For fall residencies: Self-paced LearnDash online orientation course
- For winter/spring residencies:
- Tuesday, November 12, 2024, 4:30-6pm (6-6:30pm – optional Q&A/work session), Zoom
- Saturday, November 16, 2024, 9:30-11am (11-11:30am – optional Q&A/work session), Zoom
Trauma Workshop: Please plan to attend our free, trauma-informed practices workshop if you are a volunteer, to prepare you to work with youth of all different backgrounds. Teachers are also welcome to attend. All AiS participants will receive a calendar invite to the workshop.
- January 2025 workshop date TBD
AFO Supported Residency Planning Time
AFO Education Staff holds weekly virtual “Office Hours” where AiS participants can easily hop on Zoom to ask questions and seek assistance on program related topics. All AiS participants will receive more information about our virtual office hours in the fall.
Later in the fall and winter, we will also have times for individual teams to schedule Zoom meetings with AFO staff and receive virtual assistance with residency planning and anything else AiS related.
Volunteer Spotlight
“I volunteer for Architects in Schools because I have always felt fortunate to have the education I have, and want to somehow pay it forward. I also had great teachers who introduced me to architecture, design, and engineering and influenced me to pursue those paths. I want there to be someone like that for everyone. Especially young girls, who may not often see a version of themselves in STEM.”
Contact Us
Kim Ruthardt Knowles
Associate Director, Architects in Schools
kim@af-oregon.org
503-317-7537
Candice Agahan
Education Program Manager
candice@af-oregon.org
503-542-3823
Sam Majors
Education Outreach Associate
sam@af-oregon.org
971-357-3178
Classroom Spotlight
“Our architect engaged and challenged my students in a way that has inspired my teaching. She raised the bar, and my students rose to meet her expectations. This was an incredible experience.”
– Jessica Floyd, 4th Grade Teacher