Loma Verde Elementary School

Designing for Success: California Teacher Elevates Personalized Learning and Inclusivity

In today’s ever-evolving educational landscape, the need for flexible, personalized learning environments has never been more critical. Teresa Yousoffi, a sixth-grade English and Spanish dual immersion teacher at Loma Verde Elementary School in Chula Vista, California, recognized the importance of providing her students with a classroom that supports their individual learning needs.

She entered the KI Classroom Furniture Giveaway and transformed her classroom into a space that encourages collaboration, fosters creativity, and enhances active learning, all while offering inclusivity for her diverse group of students.

Enhancing Student Engagement

Youssofi’s vision for her classroom was clear: she wanted to create an environment where students could make informed choices about how and where they learn.

Equipping classrooms with furniture conducive to enthusiastic learning is one way Yousoffi and other K-12 teachers are tackling this challenge head on.

KI, in partnership with StudioFynn, surveyed students in Youssofi’s classroom to determine how the furniture impacted their ability to learn after the redesign.

Results show furniture that promotes student well-being, creates comfort, and supports learning styles can increase student engagement. In fact, 92% of students believe their classroom is now a fun place to learn, compared to just 50% who thought that before the transformation.

"With these furniture pieces, my students will get to experience a more flexible, collaborative, and active learning experience for sixth grade,” Youssofi said.

Designing for Inclusivity

At the heart of Youssofi’s design is inclusivity. Each student comes with their own set of strengths, challenges, and learning styles. Youssofi wanted a classroom that helped students feel engaged, especially those who benefit from more physical movement, choice, or varied seating arrangements.

In addition to the student-focused furniture, Youssofi’s mobile Instruct teacher pedestal desk offers a flexible work surface, enabling her to engage in one-on-one conversations with students and focus on quiet, head-down tasks when needed.

Her goal was to provide students with similar choices, offering a variety of seating options to accommodate different learning styles and preferences, while promoting both individual focus and group collaboration.

According to the survey, 80% of her students now feel the redesigned classroom supports their individual needs, compared to just 50% before the transformation. In addition, 96% of students in the class now believe it's easy to break into group work, compared to just 35% prior. 

The Ruckus collection played a central role in transforming her space.

Ruckus worktables provide large, stool-height work surfaces perfect for students engaged in hands-on projects like engineering and science. The Ruckus post-leg desks allow for flexible surface options, giving students the ability to work independently or quickly reconfigure for small group collaboration.

The adaptability of the furniture gives students the autonomy to decide how they work best, contributing to a more personalized learning experience.

Beyond individual flexibility, Youssofi’s classroom also prioritizes collaboration.  
 
Medium-sized Ruckus whiteboards allow students to actively engage with one another during group activities. These whiteboards encourage peer-to-peer learning as students collaborate on math equations, share ideas, or brainstorm solutions together. The shift toward collaborative workstations supports the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills—key components of modern learning.

The addition of MyPlace lounge seating, a Pirouette table, and Ricochet stools created an inviting nook and a relaxed area where students can engage in quieter, more focused work. This space provides a comfortable alternative to traditional desks and chairs, giving students more control over their learning environment.

When students have the freedom to choose their seating and workspace, they become more engaged and motivated to learn. By offering a variety of seating options and learning zones, Youssofi can elevate learning, meet her students' diverse needs, and help them succeed both academically and emotionally.

See how Youssofi designed an inclusive classroom with different zones where she can personalize experiences based on her students’ communication or learning style.