APPLY ASAP: Design/Building Professional & Architecture Student Application
The teacher application is now closed. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified when applications go live for the 2023-24 season
Participate in the 2022-23 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! Through the use of 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 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.
2022-23 Season Update
We are planning an Architects in Schools structure for the 2022-23 school year that can best serve students, assist teachers and engage design & building professionals and architecture students in a safe and supportive way.
We are prepared to support each class’ individual needs, knowing that many schools may fluctuate between in-person, hybrid and distance learning depending on public health mandates.
We also know that design & building professionals and architecture students are interested in supporting teachers and youth during this time, and want to do so in a way that works best for schools.
Below you will find the several ways you can participate in Architects in Schools this year.
Why Should You Participate?
Students need AiS now more than ever before. The past couple years have been a challenge for many students to fully engage in school. While this coming school year will most likely provide students with more consistent in-person instruction, AiS is designed to reach students of all learning styles. AiS provides teachers with lessons and resources to engage students in a non-traditional and creative way.
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 had several design & building professionals work with classes virtually, and they found that students were especially appreciative and excited about their time. AiS helped them engage in school in a way that was not otherwise available to them during their virtual instruction.
Check out some of the work completed by our 2021-22 AiS students, here!
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
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 through distance learning, in the classroom, or a hybrid model.
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 virtual or in-person 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 residency that is presented virtually while students are in-classroom in the event that students are able to be in the classroom, but your school will not allow outside visitors. This would include one to six sessions (typically an hour long session per week).
OPTION 4: Partner with a design & building professional to design a custom residency that is presented virtually while students are in distance learning. This would include one to six live video sessions via the web-based platform used by your school (typically an hour long session per week).
OPTION 5: Partner with a design & building professional to design a custom in-classroom residency in the event that in-person AiS sessions are possible and volunteers are allowed in the classroom. This would include one to two sessions (typically an hour long session per week).
OPTION 6: Partner with a design & building professional to design a custom in-classroom residency in the event that in-person AiS sessions are possible and volunteers are allowed in the classroom. This would include three to six sessions (typically an hour long session per week).
The 2022-23 teacher application is now closed. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified when applications go live for the 2023-24 season
Design & building professionals and architecture 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.
Please note, if you sign up for option 1, 2, 5 or 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.
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.
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 where you present to the class virtually in the event that students are able to be in the classroom, but schools will not allow outside visitors.
OPTION 2: Partner with a teacher to design a custom in-classroom residency including three to six sessions where you present to the class virtually in the event that students are able to be in the classroom, but schools will not allow outside visitors.
OPTION 3: Partner with a teacher to design a custom in-classroom residency including one to two sessions in the event that in-person AiS sessions are possible and volunteers are allowed in the classroom.
OPTION 4: Partner with a teacher to design a custom in-classroom residency including three to six sessions in the event that in-person AiS sessions are possible and volunteers are allowed in the classroom.
OPTION 5: Partner with a teacher to design a custom virtual residency including one to two sessions while students are in distance learning. This would include live video sessions via a web-based platform used by the school, where you interact with the students and teacher.
OPTION 6: Partner with a teacher to design a custom virtual residency including three to six sessions while students are in distance learning. This would include live video sessions via a web-based platform used by the school, where you interact with the students and teacher.
APPLY NOW
Apply ASAP to participate in the 2022-23 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
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 & Architecture Student Volunteers: All first-time volunteers are required to attend a 1.5 hour virtual orientation. In addition, we highly recommend all volunteers, new and returning, to attend 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 5, 2022, 9:30-11am
- Tuesday, November 15, 2022, 4:30-6pm
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.
- Tuesday, December 6, 2022, 4-6pm
- February 2023 workshop date TBD
- April 2023 workshop date TBD
- June 2023 workshop date TBD
AFO Supported Residency Planning Time
If you are interested in attending an in-person event to meet with your assigned design professional or teacher as you plan your residency, more information will be provided as we better understand how many applicants are interested.
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.”