VOLUNTEERS: Apply ASAP. Design/Building Professional & College Student Application

TEACHERS: The 2023-24 application is closed. Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on future opportunities

Participate in the 2023-24 Architects in Schools Season

Introduce elementary school students to the power and possibilities of design through the Architecture Foundation of Oregon Architects in Schools program! Using design based lessons, this program creates lifelong learners and critical thinkers who have a greater understanding of their environment and its impact on people’s lives.

Architects in Schools (AiS) matches design and building professionals including architects, engineers, contractors, interior designers, landscape architects, city planners, architecture historians, architecture students, engineering students and more with 3rd, 4th & 5th grade* teachers to provide design education for youth. AiS is offered free of charge to schools.

Students participating in AiS learn important skills through lessons that include cooperation and planning, connect to the Oregon Academic Content Standards, Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards and help to gain a better sense of how school relates to the real world.

Learn more about Architects in Schools.

*AiS is designed primarily for 3rd-5th grades, but has been successful in younger grades and is also available to middle school classes. Please contact Architects in Schools Director, Kim Knowles, for more information.

2023-24 Season Update

We are planning an Architects in Schools structure for the 2023-24 school year that can best serve students, assist teachers, and engage volunteer design/building professionals and college students in a supportive way.

We are prepared to support each class’ individual needs and can adapt the program to fit any class structure, whether a class is in-person, hybrid, virtual, or another format.

Below you will find the several ways you can participate in Architects in Schools this year.

See the work of our 2022-23 AiS students

Why Should You Participate?

A very strong bridge built by 3rd graders at St. Pius X School

Students need AiS now more than ever before. AiS is designed for students of all learning styles and increases participation in the classroom. AiS provides teachers with lessons and resources to engage students in a non-traditional and creative way, while meeting education standards.

AiS is proven to make the highest impact on low-income students and non-traditional learners including special education, English learners, and visual and tactile learners.

We are prepared to work with unknowns and unique classroom situations. We have successfully administered the AiS program in several different classroom formats. Whether students are learning in-person or virtually, one thing remains consistent – AiS helps students engage in school in a way that is meaningful and creative.

Check out some of the work completed by our 2022-23 AiS students, here!

Classroom Spotlight

4th Grade Class
Astor School

“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

Ways to Participate

Below are the several ways you can participate or volunteer in the 2022-23 AiS season. If you have an idea about how to participate this school year that is not listed, feel free to contact AFO staff.

If you are new to AiS and have any questions about how to make it work in your classroom, we encourage you to contact AFO staff so we can assist you.

Apply through our application platform called Submittable by making a free account. You will be able to save a draft of your application as you work through it.

Architects in Schools Program Timeline:

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.

We highly encourage first-time AiS teachers, who apply to participate through options 3-6, to participate in a 1.5 hour live virtual orientation in November. A self-paced orientation will be available for teachers who cannot attend a scheduled live orientation. Scroll down for more information on AiS orientations.

If you choose options that involve a partnership (options 3-6), AFO staff will match you with a design/building professional who requests similar 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:

OPTION 1: Provide design education for my students without the input of a design/building professional using the Architecture Foundation of Oregon’s online materials including selected lesson plans, pre-recorded videos and design challenges.

OPTION 2: Provide design education for my students with limited input of a design/building professional (they will serve as a one-time consultant prior to you using AiS content with your students) using the Architecture Foundation of Oregon’s online materials including selected lesson plans, pre-recorded videos and design challenges.

OPTION 3: Partner with a design/building professional to design a custom in-classroom residency including one to two sessions (typically an hour long session per week).

OPTION 4: Partner with a design/building professional to design a custom in-classroom residency including three to six sessions (typically an hour long session per week).

OPTION 5: Partner with a design/building professional to design a custom residency that is presented virtually while students are in-classroom including one to six sessions (typically an hour long session per week).

OPTION 6: Partner with a design/building professional to design a custom virtual residency including one to six live video sessions via the web-based platform used by your school (typically an hour long session per week).

The 2023-24 teacher application is closed. Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on future opportunities.

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 let us know if you have any concerns about the options listed below.

First-time AiS volunteers are required to participate in a 1.5 hour live virtual orientation in November. We also highly recommend all volunteers (new and returning) to attend our ongoing trauma trainings throughout the school year. These trainings will prepare you to work with youth of all different backgrounds. Scroll down for more information on AiS orientations and trauma trainings.

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.

Please note, if you sign up for option 3-6 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!

Please note, virtual sessions will occur through the web-based platform that is used by the school you are paired with, since it will already be set up for the students and will be vetted according to district guidelines.

When you apply you will be able to select one or more of the following options for participating in AiS:

OPTION 1: Partner with a teacher to design a custom in-classroom residency including one to two sessions (typically an hour long session per week).

OPTION 2: Partner with a teacher to design a custom in-classroom residency including three to six sessions (typically an hour long session per week).

OPTION 3: Partner with a teacher to design a custom virtual residency including one to two sessions where you present to them virtually while students are in-person in the classroom (typically an hour long session per week).

OPTION 4: Partner with a teacher to design a custom virtual residency including three to six sessions where you present to them virtually while students are in-person in the classroom (typically an hour long session per week).

OPTION 5: Partner with a teacher to design a custom virtual residency including one to two sessions while students are in distance learning (typically an hour long session per week).

OPTION 6: Partner with a teacher to design a custom virtual residency including three to six sessions while students are in distance learning (typically an hour long session per week).

APPLY ASAP to participate in the 2023-24 season

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

Virtual Orientations & Trauma Trainings

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, a self-paced orientation course is available. Teachers will also have access to our free trauma trainings throughout the year in case you do not have access to such trainings through your school or district.

Design/Building Professional & College Student Volunteers: All first-time volunteers are required to attend a 1.5 hour virtual orientation. In addition, we require all volunteers, new and returning, to attend at least one of our ongoing trauma workshops throughout the year. The orientation and workshops will prepare you for working in the classroom and with students of all different backgrounds.

Orientation Dates – Please plan to attend one of the following virtual orientations if you are new to the program. If you are new and cannot attend either date, please notify AFO staff after applying so that we can find a solution that will work for you.

  • Saturday, November 4, 2023, 9:30-11am (11-11:30am – optional Q&A/work session)
  • Tuesday, November 14, 2023, 4:30-6pm (6-6:30pm – optional Q&A/work session)

Trauma Workshop Dates – Please plan to attend our free, ongoing trauma informed trainings if you are a volunteer, to prepare you to work with youth of all different backgrounds. The workshops are presented in a series and are intended to build upon each other. Teachers are also welcome to attend. All AiS participants will receive calendar invites to the workshops.

  • February 2024 workshop date TBD
  • April 2024 workshop date TBD
  • June 2024 workshop date TBD

AFO Supported Residency Planning Time

AFO Education Staff is in the process of establishing weekly virtual “Office Hours” where AiS participants can easily 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

Colleen Brehm
Engineer, Waterways Consulting

“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.”