Reimagining Learning Spaces: Designing Educational Environments for a New Generation

Your blueprint for student-centered environments that foster well-being and success.

Today′s classrooms must do more than accommodate students. They need to inspire creativity, nurture emotional well-being, support neurodiverse students to thrive, and foster a sense of belonging for all. Reimagining Learning Spaces provides actionable strategies for designing inclusive, flexible, and emotionally supportive educational spaces that promote both academic excellence and social-emotional development.

Leveraging her decades of experience as a school and district administrator and an industrial/organizational psychologist, author Dr. Sue Ann Highland offers research-based guidance on how to provide innovative learning spaces designed for collaboration, creativity, and inclusivity. Additional features include

• Evidence-based design principles tailored to support student engagement, emotional well-being, and academic success
• Practical tools and frameworks, such as self-assessments and worksheets, to guide planning and implementation
• Expert insights into creating adaptable environments that grow with the demands of modern education
• Examples from real schools that have successfully transformed their learning spaces

Following the strategies presented in this book, school leaders and educators can reimagine their learning environments to better serve their students and staff so that students feel supported, educators feel empowered, and everyone can thrive.

Sue Ann Highland serves as the Lead National Education Strategist for School Specialty, bringing over 30 years of experience in transforming schools and districts across the country. A retired building and district administrator, she is a recognized expert in school growth, systemic improvement, and educational change. With a Master’s in Educational Leadership and a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Dr. Highland specializes in developing impactful professional development programs, aligning instructional strategies with organizational effectiveness, and driving meaningful school transformation.

Throughout her career, she has held diverse leadership roles, including Consultant, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Principal, Federal Programs Director, and Career & Technical Education (CTE) Director, with a strong focus on school turnaround and continuous improvement. She has worked extensively with public, private, and charter schools, helping them enhance instructional strategies, build leadership capacity, and create sustainable improvements.

As an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist, Dr. Highland is passionate about aligning people, processes, and learning environments to foster success. She has provided expert coaching and consulting to districts nationwide, addressing critical areas such as crisis recovery, brain-focused instruction, collaborative learning, social-emotional learning, and career and technical education. She is particularly passionate about the intersection of instruction and environment, ensuring that physical learning spaces support and enhance student engagement and achievement.

In recent years, Dr. Highland has seamlessly integrated her extensive educational leadership experience with her work at School Specialty, designing innovative, student-centered learning environments. With a deep understanding of instructional vision and spatial design, she collaborates with districts to create dynamic, flexible learning spaces that inspire students and maximize educational outcomes.

As a nationally recognized thought leader, Dr. Highland frequently speaks at regional and national education conferences, sharing her expertise in school transformation, instructional leadership, and effective professional development. With an unwavering commitment to PK-12 school improvement, Dr. Highland partners with educators and administrators to implement evidence-based practices, streamline operations, and foster lasting success in schools and districts nationwide.