Lansingburgh classroom contest winner loving its furniture makeover

Story by Melissa Schuman, The Record, Troy, N.Y.

LANSINGBURGH, N.Y. — Anna Zibro and Megan Hupfl’s third grade class at Rensselaer Park Elementary School (RPES) has a roomful of brand new furniture.

Zibro and Hupfl, who share a classroom as co-teachers, found out just before last year’s Thanksgiving recess that they had won a national contest for a classroom makeover. Their room was selected as the Eastern Division winner of the third annual KI Classroom Furniture Giveaway, and they received a budget of up to $40,000 for brand new furniture provided by KI.

KI is a Wisconsin-based company that specializes in furniture for “education, healthcare, government, and corporate markets.” As part of the contest entry, Zibro used the company’s digital classroom planner tool to design a layout with KI furniture that would lend itself towards more efficient use of space and increased peer interaction.

The entire Lansingburgh community worked hard to raise awareness of the contest, promoting it over social media and encouraging everyone to cast their votes to lead Zibro and Hupfl to victory. In the end, they won with over 14,000 votes, an estimated 2,000 more than the runner-up.

The new furniture was delivered last week, while RPES was closed for February recess. A team from KI assembled the furniture, and then Zibro and Hupfl came in and arranged everything. The new classroom was ready for the students when they returned to school on Monday.

“I wanted to look around everywhere to see all the new furniture,” one student recalled.

“I felt excited to see all of it,” a second student added.

“I said ‘Oh my gosh it’s so beautiful’!” a third student remembered.

“My reaction was ‘*gasp* I love the new furniture’!” another student said, putting his hands on his cheeks to demonstrate his reaction on Monday.

The classroom makeover includes small group tables replacing individual desks that had been pushed together, new “wobble chairs” that give students an outlet for extra energy, new teacher desks for both Zibro and Hupfl, new shelving and storage space, a double-sided freestanding whiteboard, and new egg-shaped chairs that allow a group leader – teacher or student – to sit comfortably while working.

So far, the new classroom is operating exactly the way Zibro and Hupfl hoped it would. Now that they’ve had a few days to get used to the new layout and new furniture, they’re already seeing a difference in classroom function.

“It was definitely a transition for sure,” Zibro mused. “It feels like it’s September again, setting expectations and settling in, but it’s been great. We’re using a lot more space. We’re able to have the kids split up based on ability, and they’re able to work together. We’ve got different zones set up where the kids can work.”

“The kids have so much flexibility in talking to their peers,” Hupfl added. “This new layout truly gives them the opportunity to ‘turn and talk’ and interact. Our classroom library area can be used as a real workspace now. They can sit at the new table and collaborate on their work.”

As for the students, they’re just as excited about their new classroom as their teachers, who have helped them understand what a special, unique opportunity this is and how lucky they are to be part of it. The students say “thank you” to the community for voting and helping their class to win the KI contest.

“I like the whiteboard, ’cause there’s one side Ms. Zibro can teach on, and one side Ms. Hupfl can teach on,” one student said.

“I think the tables help us better than the desks because we have a lot more space,” another student commented.

“Some of our desks were at different heights, and it was harder for the person with the lower desk,” a third student added.

“It’s easier to work with the person next to you,” another student agreed.

The new wobble chairs are a very popular part of the classroom, helping the students to release excess energy without getting distracted from their work.

“I like our chairs ’cause you can wobble in them – they’re more comfortable,” one student said.

“The wobbly chairs help me a lot because now I can get more focused,” another student agreed.

While the students are enjoying the freedom of movement that the new furniture gives them, they all agreed on one thing – the only people who don’t need to use wobble chairs are the teachers.

“Ms. Zibro and Ms. Hupfl don’t need to move in their seats, because they’re Ms. Perfect and The Queen,” a student commented.

“Actually, they might be The Queen and The Second Queen,” another student suggested.

Royal titles aside, Zibro and Hupfl are loving their new classroom layout.

“It’s awesome,” Zibro said. “We’re so excited.”

Anna Zibro and Megan Hupfl’s classroom before getting a KI makeover. (Melissa Schuman – MediaNews Group)Anna Zibro and Megan Hupfl’s newly refurbished classroom makes much better use of available space thanks to its new furniture. (Melissa Schuman – MediaNews Group)Anna Zibro and Megan Hupfl’s third grade students, in their newly made-over classroom. (Melissa Schuman – MediaNews Group)Anna Zibro designed this classroom layout using KI software when she entered the classroom makeover contest. (photo provided)Rensselaer Park Elementary School teachers Anna Zibro and Megan Hupfl with their third grade class, inside their newly made-over classroom. (Melissa Schuman – MediaNews Group)Anna Zibro and Megan Hupfl’s classroom after its KI makeover. (Melissa Schuman – MediaNews Group)

View Original Article