A first grade teacher in Nederland sparked a new way to help students learn.

At the beginning of the school year Kayla Dombrosky began creating a flexible learning environment by collecting items from friends and family such as painted tires to create chairs, bean bags, milk crates with padded cushions on top, a couch and tables of different heights, according to a press release from Nederland Independent School District.

A flexible learning environment allows for multiple spaces that encourage many types of individual and group learning experiences and allows the teacher and students to create a space that works with them to influence the levels of interaction and engagement.

Helena Park School Principal Tina Oliver felt this idea would not only make an impact on the students in Dombrosky’s classroom, but inspire others to rethink their classroom experience.

“I appreciate Kayla’s initiative to produce a flexible learning environment which allows students the choice of what physical space optimizes their personal learning experience and maximizes their engagement in the classroom,” Olive said.

NISD Superintendent Robin Perez was invited to see the work in progress, the press release stated, and also agreed the project would not only benefit students within the district but could expand the effort of experimental learning. While at a conference, Perez shared Dombrosky’s efforts and Indeco Sales heard about it.

A model classroom will be used for others to visit and see how the space can also work for them. Dombrosky was invited to work with Indeco to design her own space with flexible learning furniture. For months later, Indeco donated and installed all supplies for Dombrosky’s classroom. Indeco Sales specializes in furnishing “next generation learning spaces that foster collaboration, creativity, critical thinking and communication.

The district wants to thank the community for coming together with donations during the summer and thank the administrators who offered support and resources to changing the classroom as well as thank Indeco Sales for donating an entire new classroom set of furniture.

“We are excited and thankful that Indeco has supported Ms. Dombrosky in creating a flexible learning environment. Dombrosky knows that to reach and teach every student, she must design learning that is engaging and exciting,” the press release read. “Flexible learning environments allow teachers to create a student centered physical learning environment that adapts to different learning styles.”