Back to Speakers
Emily Islip

Emily Islip

Smith System

Emily Islip is a key leader at Smith System, a company renowned for its innovative school furniture and solutions for dynamic learning environments. With a strong background in education-focused design, Emily plays a critical role in developing products that enhance student engagement, collaboration, and well-being.

At Smith System, Emily is instrumental in overseeing new furniture solutions that meet the ever-changing needs of 21st-century classrooms. Her work emphasizes ergonomics, flexibility, and sustainability, ensuring that Smith System's products support both students and educators in creating more effective and engaging learning spaces.

Emily’s passion for blending design with functionality drives her to create furniture that adapts to diverse learning styles and promotes active learning.

Professional Background:
Extensive experience as a classroom educator, combined with many years designing learning environments for students from early childhood through higher education.

Accreditation:
Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education; Master’s degree in Teacher Leadership; ECLPS Certified.

Thu Oct 299:30 AM – 10:30 AM

Designing With Students in Mind: A Partnership that Built a Flexible Learning Hub

Discover how a traditional school library became a vibrant, flexible learning hub: built in partnership with a community recovering from the Creek Fir

Discover how a traditional school library became a vibrant, flexible learning hub: built in partnership with a community recovering from the Creek Fire. This session highlights the collaboration between Smith System, Darden Architects, and Tangram to

Discover how a traditional school library became a vibrant, flexible learning hub: built in partnership with a community recovering from the Creek Fire. This session highlights the collaboration between Smith System, Darden Architects, and Tangram to transform the Sierra High School space through intentional co-design with students, educators, and community members. The result is an adaptable student-centered environment that supports focus, coll

Discover how a traditional school library became a vibrant, flexible learning hub: built in partnership with a community recovering from the Creek Fire. This session highlights the collaboration between Smith System, Darden Architects, and Tangram to transform the Sierra High School space through intentional co-design with students, educators, and community members. The result is an adaptable student-centered environment that supports focus, collaboration, creativity, and belonging. Attendees will gain a co-design framework for creating meaningful, community-driven learning spaces.

Show MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More
EDsession (60 minutes in classrooms)Session TypeTRACK 1: Learning Spaces, Reimagined — Evolving physical spaces shaping the future of learningSession Track
Emily Islip
Tasha O’Neal
Leslie Rau
Kristi Shanahan
Emily Islip
Emily IslipSmith System
Tasha O’Neal
Tasha O’NealTangram Interiors
Leslie Rau
Leslie RauPrincipal/Interior Designer, Darden Architects
Kristi Shanahan
Kristi ShanahanRegional Sales Manager, Smith System
Emily Islip
Emily IslipSmith System
Tasha O’Neal
Tasha O’NealTangram Interiors
Leslie Rau
Leslie RauPrincipal/Interior Designer, Darden Architects
Kristi Shanahan
Kristi ShanahanRegional Sales Manager, Smith System
Tags:Group D
Allow Registration:No
Capacity Unlimited:No
Indicate how the topic is applicable to Health, Safety, Welfare (HSW) Design credits.:Design and Planning: Building design, site planning, and interior design.
Learner Engagement:This session showcases the partnership between Smith System, Darden Architects, Tangram, and the district, highlighting co-design with students and educators. To model learner engagement, the session uses adult-learning principles in an active learning classroom layout furnished with the same products used in the project—featuring hands-on activities, small-group discussion, and interactive spatial exercises beyond lecture-style delivery.
Learning Objective 1:1. Recognize the Role of Space in Community Resilience Participants will understand how thoughtfully designed learning environments can support healing, belonging, and renewal in communities impacted by crisis.