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Dr. Raechel French

Dr. Raechel French

Executive Director of Planning & Learning EnvironmentsAustin Independent School District

Raechel French is the Executive Director of Planning & Learning Environments for Austin ISD. She holds a double degree in Environmental Design and Psychology from Texas A&M University and a Masters of Science in Human-Environmental Relations from Cornell University. Following a Fulbright Postgraduate Scholarship, she completed her PhD through the University of Melbourne's Graduate School of Education, focused on better supporting teachers and principals in their transition to more innovative learning environments. In her current role, Raechel interfaces with all design teams and campus leaders, ensuring spaces function from a practical and academic perspective. Her team also manages the design and furniture standards and long-term planning efforts for the district.

Wed Oct 28•1:00 PM – 2:00 PM•Learning Space 3501G: Hollis+Miller/Hertz Furniture

Measure What Matters: POE Playbook for K–12 Learning Environments

Design teams spend months (sometimes years) creating learning environments that support student success. But once those spaces are in use, how often d

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Design teams spend months (sometimes years) creating learning environments that support student success. But once those spaces are in use, how often do we actually measure what’s working? This interactive workshop introduces a practical, evidence-bas

…

Design teams spend months (sometimes years) creating learning environments that support student success. But once those spaces are in use, how often do we actually measure what’s working? This interactive workshop introduces a practical, evidence-based approach to Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) tailored for K–12 schools. Using the CAUSE Coalition’s open-access POE framework, attendees will learn how simple, survey-based tools can capture both hu

…

Design teams spend months (sometimes years) creating learning environments that support student success. But once those spaces are in use, how often do we actually measure what’s working? This interactive workshop introduces a practical, evidence-based approach to Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) tailored for K–12 schools. Using the CAUSE Coalition’s open-access POE framework, attendees will learn how simple, survey-based tools can capture both human outcomes, like belonging, engagement, and teacher efficacy, and the real-world spatial experience. Through a hands-on “POE sprint,” participants will:
● Identify the right questions for a project
● Learn how to interpret results
● Turn findings into actionable design and operational insights
We’ll close by exploring how POE can strengthen future designs, support accountability, and build a repeatable feedback loop that benefits students, educators, designers, and districts alike.
Attendees will leave with a clear, practical playbook for integrating POE into their K–12 projects without needing a research background.

Session Sponsored by Interface

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EDsession (60 minutes in classrooms)Session TypeTRACK 5: Building for Safety & Well-Being—from Construction to CompletionSession Track
CEU Credits:1.00
Dr. Raechel French
Tracy Hucul
Jill Dougherty 
Jordan Donop
Dr. Raechel French
Dr. Raechel FrenchExecutive Director of Planning & Learning Environments, Austin Independent School District
Tracy Hucul
Tracy HuculSenior Associate and Architect, Quinn Evans
Jill Dougherty 
Jill Dougherty Education Strategy Director, Interface
Jordan Donop
Jordan DonopDoctoral student in Educational Psychology, Texas A&M University
Dr. Raechel French
Dr. Raechel FrenchExecutive Director of Planning & Learning Environments, Austin Independent School District
Tracy Hucul
Tracy HuculSenior Associate and Architect, Quinn Evans
Jill Dougherty 
Jill Dougherty Education Strategy Director, Interface
Jordan Donop
Jordan DonopDoctoral student in Educational Psychology, Texas A&M University
Capacity Unlimited:Yes
CEU Selection:AIA HSW, IDCEC HSW
Cvent Session ID:f2fbf482-447b-430e-94ae-c2a51d077825