What If We Designed School Spaces Like Companies Do...

To Attract Top Talent

Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash

Before the pandemic, I had the chance to visit Google’s New York City offices with a few colleagues. Our mission? To talk with recent hires about their education journeys—and to understand what skills had helped them land jobs at companies like Google.

But what stayed with me wasn’t just the conversation.

It was the environment.

There was a café overflowing with snacks and soft lighting. A Lego station lined the walls where employees could build whatever sparked their curiosity. Ping-pong tables. Quiet rooms for focus. Desks draped in personal flair—including a green IKEA leaf that looked like it came straight from a child’s storybook.

I was stunned. Inspired. Envious, even. And I remember thinking: Why don’t teachers get to work in spaces like this?

Spaces that support creativity. Spaces that allow deep focus. Spaces that feel good to be in.

The truth? Google (and companies like it) understand something we often ignore in education: Environment matters. People stay longer, feel better, and do their best thinking when they feel seen, supported, and inspired by their surroundings.

And yes—post-pandemic, many of us have reconsidered what we want from our work lives. But the question remains: What if we reimagined school environments through the lens of possibility? What if we asked—not “what’s realistic?”—but what’s worth dreaming about?

Because here’s the thing: The way schools design our schools sends a message about how they value teachers. And if we want to attract and retain top talent in education, we need to start acting like it.

So what might that look like?

Here are five real shifts we could make—starting now:

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🔹 Lego & Creative Maker Corners
Corporate-style: Open creativity lounges with Legos, magnetic walls, puzzles.
School version:

• Cozy "inspiration nooks" in staff lounges with building blocks, art supplies, tactile materials.

• Optional “build & brainstorm” sessions before launching big initiatives.

Play fuels creativity. Creativity fuels teaching.

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🔹 Snack Courts & Mini Cafés
Corporate-style: Gourmet snack bars, micro-kitchens, espresso on tap.
School version:

• Weekly snack bars in the lounge—fruit, protein, coffee, chocolate.

• Monthly “café carts” with smoothies or specialty drinks.

• Local café partners for pop-ups or delivery deals.

Feeding teachers isn’t extra—it’s energy management.

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🔹 Recharge & Sensory Spaces
Corporate-style: Nap pods, meditation domes, silence rooms.
School version:

• A quiet, calming “recharge room” with soft lighting, aromatherapy, and cozy chairs.

• Pause passes for 10-15 minute sensory resets—with cultural permission and coverage.

This isn’t indulgence—it’s nervous system regulation.

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🔹 Idea Labs & Collaboration Studios
Corporate-style: Writable walls, flexible seating, creative lighting.
School version:

• “Think Tank” spaces for collaborative planning, totally desk-free.

• Marker walls, sticky notes, Lego bins.

• Stipends for team planning offsite—yes, even in a coffee shop.

Don’t just ask teachers to innovate. Give them a space that makes it inevitable.

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🔹 Mindful Movement Nooks
Tiny, yoga-inspired corners around campus with mats, stretch guides, foam rollers, and calming lights.

• Designed for quick movement resets throughout the day.

• QR codes for breathwork or short stretches.

The body carries the burnout. Let’s help it release—gently and often.

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Now, imagine a school that offers this kind of environment. One that honors the work teachers and leaders do each day. An environment where people are drawn in and want to stay.

It starts with believing it’s possible—and refusing to accept the current environment as “just the way it is.” Instead, ask ourselves-What if this was the next frontier of educational design? What if we dared to redesign the profession from the inside out?

Let’s not wait for permission. Let’s imagine—and build—the future we want for schools.

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Start shifting your team’s mindset today with my free guide: 25 Mindset Shifts to elevate the teaching profession.