ReIMAGINE Your Classroom Contest 2023 Winner

Opening Graphic

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Intro tex

Place matters and we are a resource for New Jersey schools seeking new solutions for blended learning. We’re excited to share solutions that can lead to more flexible learning opportunities, ensure greater student engagement, offer choice & control to meet individual needs, and inspire students and teachers to do their best work.

Our third annual Reimagine Your Classroom contest was open to public, private, charter and magnet schools (with enrollment over 125 students total) serving students in grades K – 12 in New Jersey. We received a total of 7 entries and a panel of judges selected one winner.

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Play VideoDancker Grant Submission

Winning Entry

“Our vision is to create an environment that allows students to read, to build, to imagine, and create. ”

Jill Castaldo, Principal

Little Falls School 2, Little Falls, NJ

Watch winning submission video

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The Process

And the winner is...

Congratulations to Mrs. Opdenberg and her students!

Evaluating the Classroom

Our team visited to review the original classroom layout.

Evaluating the Classroom

The team collaborated to explore solutions that would best meet the needs of Mrs. Opdenberg and her students. With the support of the Little Falls Superintendent, the decision was made to relocate the Library/Media Room to another floor.

Design Session at dancker

The dancker and Smith System team hosted the winning teacher at the dancker Experience Center to reveal proposed solutions and collaborate to finalize solutions.

Design Session at dancker

Together, the team explored options from Smith System's extensive portfolio.

Design Session at dancker

Colors and finishes were selected and a final layout was selected. The design team then specified
the final order.

The Big Reveal

On the first day of school, we surprised the entire school with the grand reveal of their new Library/Media Center.

The Unveiling

Students were excited to see
their new ReIMAGINED
Library/Media Room.

Play VideoReimagine Your Classroom Contest 2023 dancker & Smith System

The Reveal

“I am most excited because this space is a relevant space for students. This is it — this is 2024 and what it’s going to be moving forward”

Jill Castaldo, Principal

Little Falls School 2, Little Falls, NJ

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Case Study

Driving meaningful change takes determination, and Media Specialist Shana Opdenberg has plenty of it. Her vision for improved student collaboration, a dynamic makerspace, and enhanced classroom storage earned her the winning spot in the 2023 dancker Reimagine Your Classroom Contest.

Mrs. Opdenberg’s grand prize was a wall-to-wall classroom furniture overhaul by contest co-sponsors dancker (interiors integrator) of New Jersey and Smith System (classroom furniture). The annual contest was open to K–12 schools in N.J. with over 125 students. The goal, said Mary Lynn Kearns with dancker, is to create better learning experiences for deserving students and teachers.