JE Dunn Construction, HGTV design star Jennifer Bertrand and PrincipalsConnect partnered together to bring a one-of-a-kind transformation to Kansas City’s Border Star Montessori. One hundred years after the school was built, there was an opportunity to transform the out-of-date classroom being used as a makeshift teacher’s lounge into a staff-only oasis. During the week of Border Star’s Spring Break, the team did just that.
This renovation began several weeks before we “broke ground” on the project. As a former educator, Bertrand understood the importance of having a space specifically for teachers and staff within the school building. With that in mind, she designed a lounge that emphasized relaxation and connection. She even found a way to incorporate the appreciation of students!
Once materials were picked out and gathered, the hard work began. After the staff and teachers left for Spring Break, we got started. JE Dunn went above and beyond to complete this project in a timely and beautiful manner. Volunteers showed up daily to help with tasks, like painting, completing a small craft project, and more.
On the Monday teachers returned from Spring Break, they anxiously awaited the big reveal. At 3 p.m. sharp, staff walked through a cheering tunnel of volunteers and organization representatives into the room. Teachers were shocked; they were hugging and gleefully pointing at the new updates when they walked into the space for the first time. “It feels like you enter a completely different building,” said one teacher. Another teacher mentioned that she sadly didn’t get to see many other staff members throughout the day, because nobody wanted to spend their time in the lounge. She continued, “The lounge before was not a place you wanted to congregate. But now I’ll get to see everybody in a place that is so beautiful.”
PrincipalsConnect was honored to be part of a project to uplift our teachers and staff. We are grateful to so many organizations and individuals who made this project happen:
- JE Dunn Construction
- Jennifer Bertrand
- Kansas City Public Schools
- Kenny’s Tile
- Chris Duh+Creative
- Staco Electric
- MVP Painting
- Stanger Industries
- Sherwin-Williams
- Katalyst
- Fairwave Coffee
- Good Earth Floral
- Schutte Lumber
- Tamara & Josh Hudson + Friends
- Nothing Bundt Cakes
- Many volunteers who gave their time and talents to this project
After a short dedication, teachers freely explored the room while enjoying Nothing Bundt Cake, donated especially for the occasion. Teachers and staff tested the furniture out and expressed their deep appreciation for the beautiful space. One teacher shared, “It’s so nice to be able to have a sense of community and a beautiful space and know that we’re cared about. It’s really awesome.”
