Educational Facilitates, an introduction into musings about Schools.

In this category I hope to express a few thoughts based upon my experience about schools from the outside in as an architect and from the inside out working as a substitute teacher.

I do have a well grounded experience in with the educational project type as an architect. Work includes addition, remodels and new schools. I have worked on elementary schools, middle schools, junior highs and high schools. I have been something of a gypsy, having also worked on schools in multiple markets including the Kansas City area, Denver metro area and the Olympia/Tacoma/Seattle area.

Working in multiple regions certainly finds its expression in cultural differences, but also in different construction methods. In the Kansas City area schools were made of blocks, bricks and steel . . . in the Pacific Northwest where wood was king schools were made with light and heavy wood framing.

When the economy crashed in 2009 I had to relocate from Colorado to Kansas. I went through a process of re-inventing myself finding work as a substitute teacher and also as an artist working in the medium of wood – creating a line of art clocks that I sell in art fairs, online and in select galleries.

As a substitute teacher I taught in four school districts in the Lawrence and Topeka, Kansas area and more recently in the Brookings, SD area. I taught just about all subjects and all grades. I also did much working as a para and in the special ed programs . . . including those programs with ‘problem kids’ where officer ‘Mulroney’ seemed to be always hovering nearby. I saw, experienced and learned much.

I thrive on challenge, and for me is to step forth with the challenge of meeting the needs of schools, primarily private and charter schools with an approach that is a fusion of those experiences from the outside and the inside of an ‘educational facility’.

My focus is centered primarily, but not exclusively, on private and charter schools as they have a great need to distinguish themselves in a positive way from the public school system.

I very much hope to help out.

Andrew E. Mitchell

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