FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media contact: Meaghan Wims, (401) 274-0001 x434, mwims@duffyshanley.com

October 30, 2009 (Chicago, IL) – Sagus International announced today that it has earned a 2009 Outstanding Partnership Award from the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) for the company’s forward-looking transformation of two Chicago classrooms into model 21st century learning environments.

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley presented the award to Sagus CEO Darryl Rosser at CPS’s annual Principal for a Day luncheon on October 29. The Outstanding Partnership Award recognizes collaborations between businesses, community organizations, community leaders and CPS.

Sagus received The Outstanding Partner Award for its work to transform classrooms this year at two Chicago public high schools, Walter Payton College Prep High School and William R. Harper High School. Sagus and its partners invested about $100,000 to transform the schools, an effort that earned high praise from former CPS CEO Arne Duncan, now U.S. Secretary of Education. Duncan called the partnership a model of public-private collaboration.

“We are grateful to have been a part of enhancing the educational environment at these two schools” said Darryl Rosser.  “We strongly believe that better classroom environments will result in improved educational outcomes.”

 Sagus CEO Darryl Rosser and Payton Principal Ellen Estrada

Sagus developed a close partnership with Payton Principal Ellen Estrada and former Harper Principal Liz Dozier to collaborate on the scope of the classrooms’ makeovers. Sagus also worked with a number of key partners to help achieve the classroom transformations, including: Legat Architects, headed up by Dennis Kluge (classroom and school design) and eInstruction (educational technology and assessment). All partners generously donated their time and products.

Sagus revamped specific classrooms at Payton College Prep and at Harper High School with state-of-the-art furnishings that are mobile and ergonomically correct for the student’s working environment.  The furnishings included chairs, desks, tables, mobile teaching walls, interactive whiteboards and storage cabinets. The result is a learning environment that is more responsive to student needs and facilitates creative teaching methods.

 “The biggest thing it opens up is just workable space,” says Walt Kinderman, Payton chemistry teacher. “Before, we had the kids somewhat isolated. Communication has certainly opened up by being able to move the tables, and it just gives more surface area to perform the experience.”  In summary, Mr. Kinderman says “This has changed the way I teach.”

For more than 40 years, the Sagus group of companies has supplied furniture for elementary and secondary schools across the United States. A year ago, the company’s leaders challenged themselves to focus on a mission that goes beyond simply selling furniture. By engaging directly with educators, Sagus learned more about the challenges facing today’s schools. Sagus is committed to developing model 21st century schools. By improving learning environments, Sagus is boosting student learning and achievement. 

The company has also continued to enhance its products to be more flexible, affordable and environmentally-friendly.
    
To read more about the Outstanding Partnership Award, visit the Chicago Public Schools partnership Web site, cpspartnerships.org/outstanding. To see a video highlighting Sagus’s Harper/Payton transformations, visit the “Featured Video” section at www.sagusi.com.

About Sagus International, Inc.
Sagus International, Inc., is an innovative company based in Chicago, IL, that is committed to enhancing the physical environment to improve the results of the organizations and people in the markets it serves. For more information, visit Sagus’s web site at www.sagusinternational.com.

Tags: Design  Educational Environment  Innovation 

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