National initiative helps combat teacher burnout and student disengagement by empowering educators to transform classrooms for modern learning

As schools across the country prepare to welcome students back this fall, one critical factor might be overlooked: the physical classroom itself, and the impact it will have on both students and teachers. That’s why KI, a Wisconsin-based contract furniture company, is proud to announce the launch of its fourth annual Classroom Furniture Giveaway, awarding four K-12 educators across the nation with $50,000 each to reimagine and transform their learning spaces.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250818486319/en/

Ms. Weiner, winner of KI’s third annual classroom furniture giveaway, celebrates her new learning space at Woodway Elementary in Fort Worth, TX.

This initiative is more than a giveaway. It’s a movement aimed to address the pressing challenges in today’s education system: increasing teacher burnout, declining student engagement, and classrooms that haven’t been updated in nearly 50 years.

“Classrooms are the engine rooms of learning, yet many don’t reflect how students learn today,” said Bryan Ballegeer, KI’s vice president of education markets. “Rows of rigid desks and a lack of flexibility don’t support modern teaching modalities or today’s students. This giveaway provides educators with the power to redesign spaces that support creativity, collaboration, well-being, and meaningful learning.”

The program is open to all K–12 learning environments, including classrooms, libraries, makerspaces, esports labs, and more. Three of the four winning entries will focus on individual classrooms, while the fourth will fund a library or media center makeover.

Real Impact, Real Transformation

Each year, hundreds of teachers across the country submit their vision for a dream classroom, one that fosters collaboration, inclusivity, adaptability, and sensory engagement. The four selected winners receive a complete transformation of their classroom, made possible through KI’s innovative portfolio of flexible, durable, and beautifully designed classroom furniture pieces.

From Cogni™ Seating, which promotes movement, mobility, and sensory engagement, to Clamber™ Tiered Seating, which reclaims underutilized space with modular, multi-level elements that invite students to sit, connect, and create, educators can select solutions that align with how their students learn best.

The results of previous giveaways speak volumes, demonstrating how the right furniture can transform learning environments and student outcomes:

• Enhanced well-being and engagement: Flexible, student-centered furniture supports diverse learning styles and needs, helpings students feel empowered, included, and excited to learn.
• Stronger sense of community and collaboration: A refreshed classroom environment can inspire greater connection, motivation, and teamwork among students.
• Improved comfort and readiness to learn: Thoughtfully designed spaces, with dedicated storage and varied seating options, help students settle in and shift into a learning mindset each day.

“The impact goes far beyond furniture,” said Ballegeer. “These new environments empower both students and teachers to engage more deeply, reconnect and rediscover the joy of teaching and learning. When educators can shape spaces around their students’ needs, the results are both powerful and lasting.”

Why the Physical Classroom Still Matters

At a time when staffing shortages, curriculum debates, and student disengagement dominate the headlines, KI encourages education leaders, designers, and communities to focus on one solution hiding in plain sight: the learning environment itself.

“When designed with intention, classroom spaces can support diverse learning styles, improve mental health, encourage movement, and foster a sense of belonging,” said Ballegeer. “This program puts the power back in educators’ hands, giving them and their students the ability to co-create a space that’s truly theirs.”

Simple Entry, Transformational Results

Educators interested in KI’s fourth annual Classroom Furniture Giveaway are invited to create their dream learning space using KI’s Classroom Planner tool and submit their designs at ki.com/giveaway. The entry period opens Monday, Sept. 19, and closes Friday, Oct. 17.

Submissions will be reviewed by KI’s education team and a panel of architects and designers. Finalists will be announced in November 2025, after which the public will be invited to vote for their favorite classrooms designs and educators. The four winners will be revealed on Nov. 19, with classroom installations completed in 2026.

ABOUT KI

KI manufactures innovative furniture for education, healthcare, government, and corporate markets. The employee-owned company is headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with sales and manufacturing facilities worldwide. KI tailors products and service solutions to the specific needs of each customer through its unique design and manufacturing philosophy. For more information, visit ki.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250818486319/en/