Construct began in 2013 with the intention of incubating and expanding access to new models for teaching and learning, allowing students to develop skills they would need for success after school.
Our work with Breaker began as a single-program offering for college-age youth and an accompanying ride-along teacher effort. In 2014, our first Breaker effort provided direct impact to 12 students, hosted 38 professional development seats, and cultivated numerous industry partners. Over the years, Construct’s incubator efforts for Breaker has shepherded its growth into a comprehensive program for teachers and students alike. By 2017, the program impacted more than 700 students and teachers throughout Oregon. Construct’s ongoing relationship with College Possible ensures that the educationally transformative Breaker program includes student participants from underserved communities.
With progressive professional development opportunities for teachers, immersive summer and school-year student curricula experiences for middle and high schoolers, and an integrated school-wide approach to teaching and learning, Construct is transforming K-12 education in Oregon.
Each Breaker challenge catalyzes a rich eco-learning system, dismantling barriers between industry and education, while building social capital for underrepresented students. Past industry partners have included: Nike, Ecotrust, New Seasons, Wieden+Kennedy, First Republic, Portland State University; Portland Public Schools; Metro; and many others.
Construct then arranged for the pilot School Retool Principal Fellowship to happen in Oregon. Linking our work in Dayton and the Portland Metro region, we were able to gather 17 principals from 11 school districts to take part in the fellowship. We collaborated with Innovate Oregon and The Chalkboard Project to receive funding support from the Miller Foundation.
Helping to launch the KairosPDX School in Northeast Portland, Construct is committed to eliminate the educational achievement gap for historically underserved children. KairosPDX started as a kindergarten and is now a K-5 school.
Construct was an early funder for Concordia’s 3toPhD initiative, and worked to create a new university/public elementary school co-location model that facilitates and celebrates the intersections of teacher education and parent and community engagement.
Construct began building networks of teachers and leaders, understanding that this support is needed in shifting the culture in our public schools toward modern approaches that can be more readily tested and adopted. This is why, in 2017, the focus of our work shifted to incubating a scalable model for expanding the capacity for creativity and innovation in Oregon schools. To achieve this, we are intentionally activating a multi-sector network of education stakeholders, businesses and individuals of shared purpose across the greater Portland community.
With progressive professional development opportunities for teachers, immersive summer and school-year student curricula experiences for middle and high schoolers, and an integrated school-wide approach to teaching and learning, Construct is transforming K-12 education in Oregon.
