Thought Leadership Archives

The Cleveland Church of Christ Weathers the Storm

Posted on April 3, 2026 at 2:18 pm.

The Cleveland Church of Christ Weathers the Storm

The Cleveland Church of Christ Citadel of Hope Ministries weathered a storm of difficulty when an unforeseen disaster caused catastrophic damage to the first floor of their building, requiring extensive renovations and repairs. They reached out to the original designers of the church to seek support and counsel. A relationship forged twenty years earlier bore more fruit.

The Cleveland Church of Christ Weathers the Storm

An alarm was triggered in the middle of the night at the Cleveland Church of Christ in January 2025. The fire department was dispatched, but after inspecting the building, it was assessed that there was no fire danger. The incident was thought to be just a sensor malfunction.

The next morning, the staff discovered that most of the back half of the first floor was flooded after a water pipe froze and burst. When the utility room door was opened, the water poured down the hallways like a river, cascading down the steps into the church sanctuary. By the time the ruptured sprinkler line was shut off, office supplies were floating everywhere. Carpet, walls, furniture, and equipment were ruined overnight.

“The sudden water damage was shocking,” said Senior Pastor and CEO Bishop Lincoln C. Haughton, III. “The water just gushed and gushed and gushed all through the offices and sanctuary. Who could ever have thought that one busted pipe could do so much damage?”

The toll on the church building was more apparent after it dried out. Repairs and renovations would be extensive—all the flooring and the lower half of the drywall needed to be completely stripped out. Ruined furniture and desks had to be discarded. Most significantly, the primary location for weekly worship services on the first floor was unusable.

With ample insurance to cover the repairs, a remediation contractor was assigned and began the nine-month process of renovating the space. The storm the Cleveland Church of Christ faced did not end with the flooding.

Bishop Haughton recalled experiencing the building stripped back down to its construction components. “When I saw the bare walls, concrete floors, and steel and pipes, it looked like it did when we first built the church,” he said. “When questions came up about new floors, paint, and carpet, I immediately thought about ThenDesign Architecture.”

The Cleveland Church of Christ building was originally designed by ThenDesign Architecture and opened in November 2002. At the time, then TDA President Robert Fiala, Project Manager Chris Smith, and Interior Designer Jeanne Klecker were involved in the project.

Nobody could have guessed how significant that rewarding, personable experience would prove to be twenty-three years later.

Cleveland Church of Christ Original Construction in 2001-2002

Way Back Then

In the late 90s, the Cleveland Church of Christ realized they needed a new building to support their expanding ministries. A plot of land was purchased across the street from the location on East 105th Street that had served the local community since 1968. In 1998, ThenDesign Architecture was awarded the $6 million project, with Chris Smith serving as the architect, and Jeanne Klecker was later brought on board to handle interiors.

“When we first met with Chris and Mr. Fiala, we just had that click,” recalled Deacon James R. Haughton, Jr., Pastor of Music and Fine Arts & COO. “It was the same when we met Jeanne. They heard what we wanted to do and really listened to us. They took our ideas and developed them from the architect’s side of things. During the process, we developed a close relationship with them because our personalities fit so well.” He added, “They’re very nice people, and we liked them from the start.”

“We knew Elder Haughton because he was a regional superintendent for CMSD at the time,” said current TDA President and CEO Chris Smith, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C. “It’s always important to understand a client’s needs, but this felt unique. We were not only struck by the close tie to the immediate community, but their outreach and pastoral services that reached much further.”

After spending an Easter Sunday at their church, it became more personal for Chris, “Very soon after the kickoff, we felt an obligation to deliver for them because we simply didn’t want to let our friends down. As the project progressed, our relationship grew even more.”

Throughout the design process, discussions were had about avoiding placing columns in the sanctuary so that the pulpit, stage, and baptismal pool were visible from every seat on the first floor. The decision to add the optional second-floor mezzanine proved to be essential decades later. From an architectural and interior finishes perspective, the entrance, the two-story atrium with dome rotunda, sanctuary, and supporting spaces reflected a reverence for the church. As a house of worship, being functional and visually pleasing were equally important. The team created a texture, color, and lighting palette that fostered an inviting, warm atmosphere that was also appropriate for hosting social gatherings.

Bishop Haughton said, “They were with us through the design process, through the building process, and through the dedication services. They shepherded us all the way through to the end. The design that was delivered was all letter-perfect.”

The new Cleveland Church of Christ building opened in November 2002. That is usually where the story ends, but a blisteringly cold Ohio winter changed that.

"As far as the building today, we were satisfied then. We're satisfied now."

Deacon James R. Haughton, Jr.

Pastor of Music and Fine Arts and COO

Bishop Haughton and His Family

A Place Prepared For You

During the renovation and repairs to the sanctuary in 2025, the congregation and band temporarily relocated to the second-floor mezzanine for services, with ministers still able to preach from the pulpit on the elevated stage below. This allowed services to continue without difficulty.

If the decision during the original construction had been made not to include a mezzanine, the Cleveland Church of Christ’s story would be very different today.

“When the church was first built, there was a question about having a mezzanine or not,” Bishop Haughton recalled. “We didn’t know, but God knew one day we would need it. If not for the mezzanine, we might not have had a place somewhere else to worship. But because we did choose to have a mezzanine, we were able to move the congregants upstairs while the repair work was still being done. This let us know that the Lord sees into the future and knows of what you have need of before you need it.”

A Friend in Need

After occupying the building for over twenty years, a ruptured water pipe created a harrowing situation for the Cleveland Church of Christ ministry and congregation. A storm of distress and activity began. Instead of it simply being a disaster of time and chance, Bishop Haughton saw it as a blessing in disguise because the damage was fully covered by insurance.

The carpeting in the offices was replaced with vinyl planking, but one of the bigger concerns for Bishop Haughton was finding a suitable replacement for the sanctuary carpet because the original was no longer manufactured. Many samples were presented, but there was a growing uncertainty that an acceptable option that suited the look, feel, and respect for the space was going to be found.

Then, Bishop Haughton had an idea.

“I told my brother that we should call Jeanne and Chris at ThenDesign Architecture. They helped us build the church. Maybe they can help us fix it,” he said.

While seeking advice from TDA, the dynamics of that first phone call were mutual on both sides: There was an immediate comfort. Jeanne said, “Even though we worked on that project together over twenty years ago, Bishop Haughton’s voice was immediately familiar.”

Bishop Haughton explained the situation and their design struggles to Interior Designer Jeanne Klecker, NCIDQ. He also expressed other concerns regarding some aspects of the construction progress. Jeanne said, “I had a really strong sense of needing to do the right thing and not just because they were a former client. I understand the struggles of things not going right on a project and how stressful that can be.”

After the initial phone call, Jeanne summarized the situation to Chris. He immediately agreed that TDA would do whatever was needed at no charge. “Even though Bishop Haughton wanted to be billed for our time, Chris was adamant that we would not accept his money,” Jeanne said.

“TDA has a long history of accepting worthwhile pro bono projects,” Chris said, “but this time we had friends in need. I can’t imagine responding differently.”

"We watched God bless us in the midst of the storm. We never gave up, and we knew somehow everything would come together."

Bishop Lincoln C. Haughton, III

Senior Pastor and CEO

Cleveland Church of Christ Renovation in Progress

An Interior Challenge

Bishop Haughton came to the TDA offices to drop off carpeting samples for reference. Jeanne said seeing him was like reconnecting with an old friend. “Every conversation with him was positive, and I smiled each time I saw his name appear on my phone.”

“It felt like we were interacting with family in mind,” Bishop Haughton said. “It was like a good security blanket that you could reach for. They freely offered their expertise, freely offered their advice, and freely offered any type of support we wanted. They are always looking out for the people they work with.”

While the project progressed, Bishop Haughton and his team were also seeking Jeanne’s professional guidance to navigate through construction difficulties due to various schedule delays, supply issues, budgetary limitations, and communication challenges.

“It became a deeper commitment to me,” Jeanne said. “I felt a different sense of responsibility. This wasn’t a place of work or education. It’s a person’s place of worship, and I wanted to be highly respectful of that.”

While not official consultants on this phase of the project, Jeanne and Chris provided their professional experience to help Bishop Haughton decipher cost estimates and other construction-related technicalities. Jeanne educated the Cleveland Church of Christ team on modern construction practices so that they could make their own informed decisions with the remediation contractor.

While acting as an advisor, Jeanne was still determined to find a compatible pattern and color way that blended naturally with the entire space, but also felt appropriate for a religious environment. Bishop Haughton wanted to have a carpet wall base instead of the original rubber so the room would feel more inviting and comfortable. He shared his color preferences so Jeanne could understand the feeling he was aiming for.

“I came across a really beautiful broadloom carpet that was well-priced,” Jeanne said, “and everyone loved it.”

“We found a sample we were all really happy with,” Bishop Haughton said. “It was like a sign we made the right decision because Jeanne was involved with picking out the original carpet, and it was fitting she helped us to choose the new one.”

"It’s really been a journey, but we’re glad to be at the finish line."

Bishop Lincoln C. Haughton, III

Senior Pastor and CEO

The Cleveland Church of Christ Renovated

A Revival

Bishop Haughton reflected on the church flooding due to a frozen water pipe from the perspective of the eventual outcome that was paid for by insurance. “The entire church, the entire sanctuary, all the offices, all the hallways on the main floor have been refreshed. It was very timely that the physical revival happened in our 101st year. It was clearly God’s will that we got a refresh. It was a trial for about nine months, but now it will look great for years.”

The fresh, new sanctuary was officially opened for services on September 21, 2025. Deacon Haughton remembers how their parishioners received the finished room: “The response was very positive. They loved the new carpet and how everything looked and was brighter now.” He smiled and nodded, “They loved what they saw.”

Referencing the original building design and the renovation, he said, “If we needed to do this all over again, we wouldn’t change anything.”

“The first Sunday when everything was finished was very joyous. Very joyous. Very joyous,” said Bishop Haughton. “The congregants were thrilled to see the sanctuary back together. They were just thankful for what the Lord had done. The sermon that day was on the topic of revival. I went through the blueprints that God has provided for revival. The building has had a much-needed revival, but we can also see that in the spiritual sense, so we can remember what God has done in this church.”

"The building has grown with us over the years. It's just as relevant today as it was back then. The building has enabled us to do what we needed to do."

Deacon James R. Haughton, Jr.

Pastor of Music and Fine Arts and COO

Cleveland Church of Christ's Interior Revival

Building Bridges. Keeping Bridges.

Bishop Haughton summarized his experience with TDA, “You should not forget the bridges you come over. You have to be thankful for them and make sure that you keep relationships and make sure you deal with people in the right way.”

Jeanne said, “By the end of this whole process, I felt my friendship with Bishop Haughton was a continuation of one that started so long ago.”

“TDA has built a legacy on forging relationships,” Chris said. “To look back and appreciate the relationship we still have with clients from long ago, like Bishop Haughton, is incredibly fulfilling. We were happy to help and glad that everyone is pleased.”

“Consistently, Bob and Chris see the value in doing the right thing regardless of whether or not we get future work from a client. But if we do, that’s kind of a bonus. Other firms may do pro bono for that primary reason, but with TDA, when you see a client struggling and in need of professional assistance with architectural or design issues, but they don’t really have the funds to cover it, stepping up and helping your neighbor or that community is the right thing to do.”

Jeanne concluded, “It’s a moral choice that may not benefit us financially, but we help build that relationship. They know that when they needed help, we were there for them. And we were happy to do it.”

"God can bless you to build, and He can bless you to rebuild."

Bishop Lincoln C. Haughton, III

Senior Pastor and CEO

The Storm Was Weathered

Marc Cebrian

Communications

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Designing Beyond ADA Supports All Students

Posted on March 13, 2026 at 1:28 pm.

Written by Marc Cebrian

Designing Beyond ADA Supports All Students

The "Beyond ADA" presentation at EDspaces inspired conversations about effective design considerations for enabling students with special needs. The intent was that attendees could take that information back to their schools and districts to implement what they learned. ThenDesign Architecture partnered with North Ridgeville City Schools and the Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities to create an engaging workshop to spark ideas and offer creative solutions to accommodate students with special needs, but also benefit the general student population.

Designing Beyond ADA Supports All Students

Architects and interior designers consider safety, comfort, and flexibility for the students and their teachers when creating modern educational facilities. All new schools are ADA-compliant, but some require more specialized features, equipment, and spaces to support a diverse population of students with disabilities.

Modern considerations go far beyond wheelchair access. Conditions such as blindness, deafness, autism, cognitive limitations, physical disabilities, and anxiety disorders can influence the design of a school, depending on the needs of the district.

One of the difficulties for designers is balancing the requirements for students receiving special education services among the general population. Classrooms, hallways, collaborative areas, and common spaces need to accommodate everyone without excluding anyone. That is not an easy task, but passionate, dedicated designers welcome the challenge.

ThenDesign Architecture (TDA) partnered with North Ridgeville City Schools and the Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities to present “Beyond ADA: How Designing for Special Needs Supports the Needs of All Students,” at the EDspaces conference in Columbus, Ohio.

The primary objectives of the workshop included identifying specific environmental factors that can be modified to support diverse student populations and improve engagement, understanding how thoughtful design can help reduce stress and improve mental well-being, brainstorming actionable ideas, and learning how to balance academic, social, and emotional needs.

Beyond ADA: Designing for Special Needs Students

Play Video

The EDspaces Inclusive Workshop

EDspaces hosts an annual event bringing together educators from across the country to share experiences and ideas to improve learning environments. According to the website, “EDspaces is the future-facing hub where learning, design, and innovation converge. …it’s where education decision-makers and industry leaders reshape what learning environments can be.”

“I really enjoy the engagements with students, faculty, and staff, and understanding how best to provide them with a space that works for them,” said TDA Interior Designer Rhonda Franklin, NCIDQ, LEED AP ID+C, WELL AP. She led the presentation utilizing her 25 years of educational design experience.

“We designed this workshop to be engaging,” Rhonda said. “The attendees brought a wealth of life experience to the learning process, and we encouraged open discussions of their experiences to help find new problem-solving approaches.”

The workshop focused on how adopting school design strategies that support special needs can improve academic outcomes for all students and was presented with research that supported how design decisions can positively affect learning, engagement, and wellness.

The engagement consisted of a series of short lectures, followed by group discussions and report-outs of participants’ ideas. The session was intended to discover ways educators could tailor the learning experience by identifying new design strategies to create a safer, more accessible, and more emotionally comfortable environment for students.

Joseph Petrarca, the former Director of Educational and Shared Services with the Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities, spoke via pre-recorded video, “There’s a variety of disabilities that respond well to the same type of outcomes. Visual schedules work for a lot of kids, even those without disabilities,” he said. “You see more and more visual supports in classrooms because it helps the kids make sense of what’s coming next. It can even reduce anxiety in students without an individual education plan (IEP).”

Joe concluded, “We’ve seen a big shift from just getting kids in the building to having inclusive elements in a general education classroom.” By tailoring the learning experience to meet the needs of disabled students, educators can foster a more engaging and rewarding learning environment for all.

“It was really awesome to see all the real exchanges between the audience members,” Rhonda said. “Seeing their group discussions, sharing their personal situations, and informing each other about what’s important to them is exactly what we wanted. As a designer, I’m constantly learning, and I learned quite a bit today.”

EDspaces "Beyond ADA" Presentation

North Ridgeville Encourages Student Independence

“I want my students to have as much independence as possible,” said North Ridgeville City Schools Intervention Specialist Caitlin Carlo. “I really want them to be able to do things on their own. That’s why I like letting people know what we’re doing in North Ridgeville.”

North Ridgeville City Schools has unique programs based in the high school that were created specifically for students with special needs. This supports the district’s philosophy to focus on the development of the whole child to ensure success.

Able Not Label is a program where special needs students use job skills and talents to create school-themed merchandise. Students participate in the design, manufacturing, and sale of items in the Able Shop. Capable Confections is a new student-run baking program developing food service industry skills.

“I’ve been teaching students with significant disabilities for 13 years,” Caitlin said. “They are unique and amazing and make me smile every day.” Her involvement in the presentation was driven by a desire to raise awareness and inspire meaningful change by influencing ideas and solutions that attendees can take back to their school districts.

“We were able to talk about the flaws we have in our school systems and share the struggles we have to work through,” Caitlin said. The workshop afforded a unique opportunity for those passionate about the well-being and success of students with disabilities to share ideas and speak frankly about current conditions.

Caitlin continued, “All students have the right to belong and be accommodated and to participate with their peers. So, it’s really important we make sure we do our best to provide what they need to learn, thrive, be happy, be successful, and contribute to society.”

EDspaces Beyond ADA Presentation Slides

Inclusive Design Considerations

“The educational segment is especially rewarding because it’s always adapting,” said ThenDesign Architecture Interior Designer Jeanne Klecker, NCIDQ. “ADA is mandated, but our presentation was titled ‘Beyond ADA’ because that is what we’re encouraging people to think about. Having discussions about going beyond the requirements to make sure we’re accommodating every student and every teacher the best we can.”

One pathway to achieve this is by looking beyond special education classrooms to consider every space within the building. Jeanne said, “We need to be looking at spaces like art classrooms, labs, gymnasiums, and student dining spaces so we can think about what we can do to make it better for everyone.”

Some of the topics discussed during the presentation were acoustics, lighting, temperature, colors, textures, furniture, and elements of the student experience that impact emotional and physical needs. Certain environments that are colorful or loud have the potential to overstimulate some students.

One of the universally accepted stress-relieving design techniques is incorporating natural light, natural colors, and shapes like trees, leaves, flowers, and bodies of water into a school environment. Biophilic elements can be a wooden tree stand in a media center or patterns of leaves on a classroom wall. These interior finishes, along with large windows with a view of the outdoors, can have a soothing effect.

Jeanne said, “It’s important for interior design to understand all of the goals that go into a school building, because it’s more than just the finishes, the colors, and space planning. Thinking through how students or teachers will move through that building independently and confidently is important. Using those spaces to learn and teach effectively is vital to a design.”

EDspaces "Beyond ADA" Presentation

Even Teachers Are Still Learning

“It’s very important to me that students don’t feel excluded,” said TDA Educational Design Lead Claire Bank, AIA, ALEP, NCARB. “We all want students to thrive and focus on learning. Not to be distracted or face barriers to their needs.”

The workshop gathered an engaged group of professionals with a variety of backgrounds and experiences. Despite the collaboration and planning for the event, Claire admitted there were topics of discussion that had not been considered. “We covered lighting, acoustics, and temperature control, but in one of the breakout sessions, we heard about accommodating deaf students. That was something we hadn’t really addressed,” she said. “But it raised some interesting questions and something for us to consider as we move forward with future designs.”

The workshop collaborations and group activities were not intended to answer all questions, but at least broaden the topics of discussion by inspiring driven, creative minds to address bettering the educational environments for all students and teachers.

One of the attendees shared their experience about a special disability school. “Learning about the disability school that has blind and deaf students was really interesting,” Rhonda said. “Especially hearing about the visual aids and other forms of communication. It seems like a very complicated design problem to figure out. I don’t know that I have a solution yet, but I would love to learn more.”

Claire said, “Anything we can do to accommodate students to help them feel comfortable and see that their needs are met throughout a school building is very important to me.”

EDspaces "Beyond ADA" Presentation

Caring Beyond ADA

“Incorporating universal and ADA design principles into schools is important to me personally,” Rhonda said. “We need to care about each other. We need to think about how we can all live together and work together. This is a global mindset, not just for schools.”

“It’s important that we’re changing our educational practices. We need to stay progressive to prepare our students for their futures,” Cailtin concluded. “I have a passion for students with significant disabilities. I see the value in what they can bring to the community, and I want the community to see that.”

The “Beyond ADA” workshop at EDspaces sparked conversations on effective design considerations for students with special needs that attendees can take back and implement in their schools and districts. Creating inclusive spaces through flexibility, visual support, acoustics, lighting, temperature controls, sensory considerations, and biophilic elements can improve the design to maximize the potential benefit for all students.

The Beyond ADA Team

Marc Cebrian

Communications

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Inside Wickliffe’s Family Resource Center: Strengthening Communities

Posted on November 14, 2025 at 12:12 pm.

Written by Ryan Caswell

Inside Wickliffe's Family Resource Center: Strengthening Communities

The Wickliffe Family Resource Center, operated by the Wickliffe City School District, teamed up with ThenDesign Architecture to produce a series of informational videos showcasing the free services provided to community members and students, including primary care, behavioral health, and oral care. It is designed to be a model for resource centers across the country. In close partnership with Signature Health, the non-profit organization is connected to the new PreK-12 Campus in Wickliffe, Ohio.

Inside Wickliffe's Family Resource Center: Strengthening Communities

The Wickliffe Family Resource Center (WFRC) is operated by the Wickliffe City School District in partnership with Signature Health. It is a unique organization that brings together support services and educational resources to enhance the well-being of students, families, and community members.

A series of documentary videos was created to explain what the Wickliffe Family Resource Center is and how it can assist those in need. Offering physical resources such as food, clothing, and household supplies through the WicKloset program is in addition to Signature Health’s free primary care, behavioral health, and oral health services.

Part 1: Who Are We?

“The Wickliffe Family Resource Center is a one-stop shop for members of the community, students, and staff to get any of their needs met,” commented former superintendent Joe Spiccia on the WFRC.

The FRC has become a community hub, operating under the guiding principle: “We never say no.” Built from a careful examination of Wickliffe’s students and our families, the center’s vision, championed by Director of Strategic Innovation Julie Ramos, is to ensure student success by complementing the work of schools.

The FRC, which includes a secure on-campus clinic co-located within the PreK-12 school, provides critical food, clothing, medical, and mental health services. The initiative is designed to wrap around students and families, offering a safe location and the necessary supports so they can level up. Local leadership, including the mayor, emphasizes that the FRC is one way this tight-knit community provides for its neighbors and students who may be going through challenging times. The district’s student experience is impacted for the better because, as one community member noted, “If you needed any help, it was there.”

Part 2: Partnership with Signature Health

Many students have unmet mental or chronic health needs, and we know that those can negatively impact their attendance and their performance. Having a clinic at the WFRC allows us to address those needs and see success in students,” said Medical Director, Primary Care for Signature Health, Dr. Todd Wagner. They aim to provide students with key services that benefit their lives.

The success of the Wickliffe School District’s academic mission relies on students being “healthy, happy, and feeling good,” according to Superintendent Joe Spiccia. This led to the partnership with Signature Health, a community health center specializing in serving those at any socioeconomic scale.

Signature Health at the Family Resource Center (FRC) provides comprehensive, co-located healthcare, including primary care, behavioral health, and oral health. The service is unique in that it is open to anybody, regardless of zip code, status, or income.

This collaboration addresses significant barriers to academic performance—such as hunger, housing instability, or unmet mental health needs—that impede a student’s ability to learn. By offering vaccines and physicals on-site, students do not miss instructional time. Clinicians can work as a team with school staff to address chronic conditions like asthma or provide individual and family counseling for emotional needs. This proactive support system is critical for the student experience, allowing children who were once struggling to “thrive,” see their “grades improve,” and ultimately graduate. The goal is to expand the impact on the entire community.

Part 3: Making a Difference

The Wickliffe Family Resource Center (FRC) utilizes a unique “wraparound service” model to assist individuals in need. Director of Strategic Innovation for Wickliffe City Schools, Julie Ramos, stated, “By having a wraparound service, we aim to benefit each person outside of just an academic setting. If we don’t provide the service, we’re going to figure it out.” This approach sets Wickliffe apart by offering comprehensive resources in one location, ensuring that when a family or student presents a challenge, the FRC commits to providing a solution.

Core services include the WicKloset, which offers seasonal clothing, shoes, and dry storage food. Crucially, the FRC helps students by providing counseling services, an outlet that was unavailable to previous generations of struggling single-parent families. This support directly impacts the student experience, providing the necessary aid that allows young people to focus on their education.

The FRC is supported by the community, with citizens donating and volunteering to help out those in need. High school students are learning empathy and leadership by giving back, recognizing that helping others creates a positive “chain reaction” for the whole community. Grant support from the state and federal government recognizes the importance of this work, which provides significant downstream savings through early intervention.

Part 4: Measuring Success

Since opening in 2019, the Family Resource Center (FRC) has served over 10,000 people across 22 ZIP codes, demonstrating a significant community impact. Last year alone, the FRC served approximately 2,000 individuals through programs like the WicKloset, ensuring food and clothing for community members.

The FRC’s true measure of success is the tangible impact on family and student outcomes. By addressing non-academic barriers, the district has seen a 12% reduction in the chronic absenteeism rate and an improved graduation rate. There has also been an increase in participation in extracurricular activities, partially credited to the availability of free physicals at the center.

For struggling students, the center provides crucial primary care and behavioral health services, which have been proven to lead to better school attendance and performance. Success is measured in many ways—but the FRC’s data confirms that its “big mountain to climb” approach is making a direct, positive difference in the overall student experience and the community at large.

Part 5: Building the Campus

“We knew that if we served the whole community, we were then serving the students,” commented former superintendent Joe Spiccia on the construction of the new PreK-12 school.

The Wickliffe community is a close-knit entity. The schools, which are a central part of that community, launched meetings in 2017 to address their aging facilities. The result was a consensus to build a new Preschool through 12th-grade campus, consolidating all students into one secure location.

The design of the new campus and the attached Family Resource Center (FRC) was strategically executed with ThenDesign Architecture (TDA). The FRC, which was designed as a part of the new school, was created as a secure, safe location with its own outside entrance and connection to the school. This physical design ensures safety while maximizing accessibility.

The FRC’s success stems from extensive collaboration; the district met with every social service agency in Lake County, securing Signature Health as its primary partner. State government officials also provided crucial support to secure funding. The center operates on the premise that serving the whole community inherently serves the students, creating a supportive environment where students know, “We’ve got you. Even if you trip, you have somewhere to go.” This thoughtfully designed space ensures every student can get back up and continue moving forward.

Part 6: Setting the Example

“This is the future of education. It is really, truly addressing the entire human and by using our partnerships and working collaboratively to bring in those nonprofits, we benefit families and students,” states Director of Strategic Innovation for Wickliffe City Schools, Julie Ramos.

The Wickliffe Family Resource Center (FRC) is positioned as a successful model that needs to be replicated in communities nationwide. Stakeholders assert the FRC represents the future of education, stressing that its value goes “way beyond any return on investment” by creating happier, healthier communities.

The center’s mission is to support the whole child, whole family, and whole community. By addressing the entire human through strong partnerships with nonprofits, businesses, and foundations, the FRC ensures students receive comprehensive support. This holistic approach significantly improves the student experience by removing non-academic barriers.

Wickliffe leaders are inviting other school districts seeking to build similar programs to “call us.” They pledge to be an “open book,” sharing every step of their journey to demonstrate how any community—whether in Lake County or five states away—can benefit from this center and utilize its services. The existence of the FRC is a major asset that offers support to many families in need.

Learn more about the Wickliffe Family Resource Center by visiting their website: https://www.wickliffeschools.org/wickliffe-frc

Ryan Caswell

Communications

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Ryan Caswell

Ryan is a communications specialist who is passionate about using digital media to further the goals of organizations and communities in Northeast Ohio. With a background in construction and a degree in architecture, he spent over a decade in corporate video production and brings this mindset to videography, editing, photography and content marketing. He is passionate about supporting the arts, and can be found hiking in the parks system.

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TDA’s Claire Bank Receives ALEP Designation

Posted on August 15, 2025 at 1:11 pm.

Written by Marc Cebrian

TDA's Claire Bank Receives ALEP Designation

ThenDesign Architecture is a learning and teaching firm. Even our most seasoned professionals see the value of furthering their educational experience to enhance their personal development and the expertise they offer to our clients. We are pleased to announce that Claire Bank, AIA, NCARB, has received the Accredited Learning Environments Planner (ALEP) designation from the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE). This notable mark of excellence was developed to reflect the knowledge, skills, and abilities of a competent educational facility planner.

The ALEP credential was designed to elevate professional standards, enhance individual performance, and identify those in the educational environment industry who demonstrate the knowledge essential to the practice of educational facility planning. All recipients meet rigorous eligibility requirements. Claire completed the A4LE Academy Advanced Certificate Program by participating in Cohort 11.

“A4LE is a neat organization because it pulls together a lot of different people who work in the educational sector,” Claire said. “It’s comprised of educators, facility directors, vendors, interior designers, and architects that pool a variety of perspectives to build a comprehensive view of project needs in the school environment.”

Blending career backgrounds from the educator and school district perspectives helped Claire gain valuable insights. Throughout five of the six modules, she worked closely with four teammates, completing assignments with them and meeting with them at least twice a week. One member of her project team had experience providing professional development guidance from the world-class Finnish education system. Another teammate was the head of renovations for a large school district in Texas. The other two were architects who head architectural practices in New Hampshire and Louisiana.

Listening to her teammates, Claire better understood the communication gap that all projects can experience when translating design concepts to school district members. The group discovered they had similar challenges and opportunities with their projects, even though they worked all over the world.

“It was really fun to have honest dialogues and discuss ideas that weren’t rooted in a specific project, but were reflections on our past challenges and what we’ve all learned over the years as we discussed course materials,” Claire said. “I really appreciated the coursework. We reviewed a lot of reports and studies on all sorts of elements in design features and environmental factors that affect student learning. Some of the most valuable information was how to positively impact students and enhance their ability to learn, while also examining how the staff uses the classroom spaces to teach.”

Design is not just about creating a cool space, but seriously considering how students and instructors will experience the learning environment. Stopping to ask if the spaces are meeting the basic needs appropriate for what is being taught may seem simple, but it challenges the designer to consider not letting the space itself be the focus. Instead, factors like temperature, acoustics, and natural light should be closely considered so that students and teachers can experience greater effectiveness and productivity.

An aesthetically pleasing design opportunity in a classroom may not always be the best choice for student and instructor comfort. Claire said, “We shouldn’t get people distracted by falling in love with ‘a thing’ in the project without totally understanding how it’s going to function. We’ve been giving students a variety of spaces and experiences to thrive in, but it works hand-in-hand with the classroom experience. We should hone in on the educational aspects of a project and understand the vision, then support with architecture.”

“This program has shown me there is more that we can do in the classroom,” Claire added.

One of Claire’s biggest takeaways is making sure the basic needs of students are being met as much as possible through building design. “Keeping the students and staff comfortable and giving them the resources they need to be successful should be the focus. This allows them to do what they need to do without being distracted by discomfort. It’s vital we keep people feeling safe, not only from a security standpoint, but from an emotional well-being standpoint, in addition to being comfortable,” she said.

Her completion of the A4LE Academy Advanced Certificate Program has given Claire a fresh perspective on the design process by exposing her to frank insights from school districts and educators, and access to relevant data. Claire concluded, “I’m grateful to A4LE for facilitating this great program where people from different sides of the table could have enriching dialogues. We quickly realized we were all striving towards the same goal: Providing great learning environments for students.”

To learn more about A4LE and ALEP, visit www.A4LE.org.

"Keeping the students and staff comfortable and giving them the resources they need to be successful should be the focus."

Claire Bank, AIA, NCARB

ThenDesign Architecture

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Marc Cebrian

Communications

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TDA’s Summer Student Shadow Day

Posted on August 1, 2025 at 1:25 pm.

Written by Marc Cebrian

TDA's Summer Student Shadow Day

ThenDesign Architecture hosted an annual Summer Shadow Day, providing unique learning sessions, hands-on activities, and team-building opportunities for high school and college students interested in the architectural design or construction fields.

TDA's Summer Student Shadow Day

ThenDesign Architecture is a community-oriented learning and teaching firm, so hosting an annual Summer Shadow Day for current and recent students is a natural fit. Inviting future professionals who are curious about the architecture, interior design, and construction fields, the staff shared their love for the industry through a series of learning engagements at the TDA office in Downtown Willoughby at the reimagined Memorial Junior High School.
 
The Summer Shadow Day is aligned with our mission to serve communities through the work we do. TDA President Chris Smith, Ph.D., AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, expressed the importance of such outreach for young people: “When I was that young, there weren’t the same opportunities available, which makes it even more rewarding for us at TDA to host this kind of program that supports students while reflecting our core values.”
 
The goal of the day was to give students a practical view of the industry beyond their academic education. Christina Moran, Ph.D., is the leader of People Operations at TDA and came up with the vision and design for the event. “Sharing the experiences of our team, first-hand, is an excellent way to get students excited about the profession while also learning about who we are,” she said. “If we can inspire future designers and architects by assisting them in deciding if this is the right path for them, we are honored to have helped them along the way.”

TDA's Summer Student Shadow Day

First a Student, Then an Employee

Emerging Professional Logan Nelson was a guest at the Summer Shadow Day in 2024 and is now a full-time employee at TDA. “I first came into contact with TDA at the Career Fair at Kent State University. They were really welcoming and friendly, and that was the type of firm I was looking for.”
 
Logan said the experience at TDA’s Summer Shadow Day opened his eyes to how different companies can be, and it solidified his desire to be on staff. “The shadow day helped me sort out my professional focus. TDA has a very collaborative environment, and I was impressed by how kind and eager to help people were. I think the studio layout also got me excited about joining the team.”
 
“Education can be kind of abstract,” Christina said. “How people function as students doesn’t always equate to the professional workplace. The priorities emphasized in the process of developing academic rigor may not be as important in a practical setting. We want to help students see that translation to better enable them with a realistic perspective. During the shadow day, they came up with concepts, explained them to others, and then presented them in front of a group. That was more hands-on than some expected.”
 
“I hope the students use this experience to further refine their career and educational paths,” Chris said. “I urge all interested students to seek out exploration opportunities because they’re out there, whereas they weren’t 30 years ago. Take advantage of what’s available.”
 
The Summer Shadow Day provided unique learning sessions, hands-on activities, and team-building opportunities for interested high school and college students; the ThenDesign Architecture professionals developed content tailored for this audience. Sharing their technical expertise and enjoyment for teamwork, the TDA staff demonstrated that a humble professional never stops being a student and should always strive to continue learning.

"It's rewarding to give students opportunities I did not have at their age."

Chris Smith

President

TDA Staff Sharing Their Expertise

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Marc Cebrian

Communications

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The Tiny House Challenge

Posted on June 27, 2025 at 12:47 pm.

Written by Ryan Caswell

The Tiny House Challenge

The Tiny House Challenge at North Ridgeville City Schools' Ranger High Tech Academy pushed students to design the smallest house that could still comfortably meet the occupants' needs. With a comprehensive set of parameters, students spent months crafting spaces using the same tools as modern architects and designers.

The Tiny House Challenge

During the intricate process of designing new educational facilities, there are invaluable moments to offer insight and feedback on student work. At TDA, our commitment extends beyond architectural plans, and as a firm deeply rooted in the philosophy of teaching and learning, we consistently seek opportunities to engage with the next generation of innovators.

This brought us to North Ridgeville City Schools’ Ranger High Tech Academy, where we participated in a compelling Project-Based Learning (PBL) initiative: the “Tiny Houses” project.

The “Tiny Houses” PBL tasked Ranger High Tech Academy students with a significant challenge: to design the smallest possible house that could still comfortably accommodate a client’s needs. They were given a comprehensive set of parameters, including family size, environmental considerations, and necessary daily activities. Their mission was to craft a “tiny home” that was both functional and innovative.

The Tiny House Challenge First Planning Session

Tiny Homes, Big Lessons

Megan Wood, seventh and eighth-grade science teacher at Ranger High Tech Academy, led the project. “Learners worked in teams to create sustainable and affordable tiny homes. They had to practice an understanding of blueprinting and scaling. They worked in teams to revise and prototype. Through that design and engineering process, they explored different energy sources, whether renewable or non-renewable, and they learned a little bit about electricity and how it works within a home.”

Over several months, these students embarked on an intensive design process. They moved from initial concepts to refined plans, having built physical scaled models, 3D prints, and drafting software. Professional architects and designers use similar tools. This immersive process allowed them to visualize and iterate on their ideas, culminating in comprehensive final presentations.

To ensure the students received real-world feedback and guidance, TDA was invited early in the process alongside other community members to review their prototypes and judge their final projects. This direct engagement allowed our team to offer professional critiques, highlight strengths, and suggest areas for further development, bridging the gap between academic learning and professional practice.

Megan added, “This project was very helpful because of all the career connections and future career opportunities that the kids discovered. Whether an architect, a project manager, or an interior designer, it was great for them to see how the different jobs are interconnected. They have never been exposed to this before.”

The Tiny House Challenge Final Judging Session

Real-World Skills, Future Careers

The impact on each student’s project was demonstrable. Participants walked away with an understanding of critical design principles. They learned how to effectively lay out interior spaces and merge furniture design with architectural constraints, environmental considerations, and manufacturing feasibility.

Project-based learning initiatives like this one are increasingly vital in preparing students for future careers by fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

“I was surprised to see how each of the students prototyped their homes in different ways,” Megan said. “Each of them came up with different design solutions to a challenging problem. They had to ask, ‘How do you make a spiral staircase? How am I going to show this loft? How am I going to build this furniture?’ It was fascinating to see their perspectives on how they approached those projects.”

This collaboration with North Ridgeville City Schools exemplifies how educational institutions and industry professionals can partner to create richer, more relevant learning experiences for students. By providing direct exposure to real-world design challenges and expert feedback, TDA helps to cultivate not just future architects and engineers but also innovative thinkers prepared to tackle complex problems in any field.

Ryan Caswell

Communications

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Highlighting Excellence in School Communication

Posted on June 6, 2025 at 4:35 pm.

Written by Ryan Caswell

Highlighting Excellence in School Communication: Recognizing Efforts in a Challenging Landscape

The Ohio Public School Relations Association (OHSPRA) recently honored TDA Communications with four awards for their work in highlighting the impact of public education, including the prestigious "Best of the Best" for an article on Indian Valley Local Schools' new stadium. This recognition underscores the vital role of skilled communication and public relations in sharing compelling narratives about student experiences and fostering community support for schools.

Highlighting Excellence in School Communication

Schools across Ohio are dynamic centers of learning, continually innovating to connect with students and equip them for a complex and ever-evolving world. However, achieving that mission is often challenged by busy schedules, the rapid pace of technological change, and tight fiscal constraints. Especially for public schools, the need for clear, consistent messaging delivered through modern communication channels is more important than ever to effectively tell stories about the impact of public education and build vital support and pride in each community.

The Ohio School Public Relations Association Conference 2025

The Ohio Public School Relations Association

Supporting those on the front lines of this effort is the Ohio School Public Relations Association (OHSPRA). This organization is dedicated to the training and professional development of school communication professionals. OHSPRA’s core mission is to facilitate support for and trust in education through comprehensive communications and public relations efforts. They provide valuable resources and training to help members listen to and communicate responsibly with their many internal and external audiences while working to enhance the image and role of their districts.

Educators do amazing things each day, and they deserve to have their stories told.

TDA Communications

In this challenging and crucial landscape, the Communications Team at TDA is dedicated to supporting school communication professionals. As a production agency operating within an architecture firm, we focus on spotlighting the individuals and initiatives that make a significant difference in schools. Sharing the most impactful stories through documentary-style video narratives, photography, and written materials is our passion. This work is driven by the belief that creative vision, in the hands of talented artists, can transform raw information into compelling narratives that inspire and connect with audiences. With a diverse skillset, our award-winning team leverages decades of combined experience to bring these stories to life.

The team was honored to be recently recognized by OHSPRA for our efforts in helping tell these stories, receiving four communication awards in partnership with school districts. Three communication pieces were awarded a “Mark of Excellence” for their video and presentation work, with another receiving the prestigious “Best of the Best” for written materials.

The Ohio School Public Relations Association Media Awards

Best of the Best Award

This “Best of the Best” award was presented for an article developed in conjunction with Indian Valley Superintendent Dr. Ira Wentworth, whose compelling recounting of how his personal experience as a track athlete influenced the design of the district’s new stadium complex. This facility was designed by TDA in collaboration with Indian Valley Local Schools. The sports complex now hosts state championship athletic competitions that were not previously possible. By incorporating direct quotes from the interview and showcasing photography of the completed facility, the article effectively shared a story that can now resonate beyond just the community.

The most fascinating narratives are ultimately about people—how a building, event, or educational program inspires individuals to learn, succeed, and connect.

Highlighting achievements like this through skilled public relations storytelling is vital. It celebrates success and demonstrates the tangible ways in which educational initiatives and thoughtful facilities directly enhance the student experience, benefiting the wider community and fostering greater understanding and support for public education.

If you would like to know more about TDA Communications, reach out to rcaswell@thendesign.com.

Ryan Caswell

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Ryan Caswell

Mentor’s CARES House: Autistic Education Comes Home

Posted on March 28, 2025 at 7:55 am.

Written by Marc Cebrian

Mentor’s CARES House: Autistic Education Comes Home

The Cardinal Autism Resource and Education School (CARES) is an educational program that develops independence skills for autistic students. The CARES House is a unique residential home custom-built to empower autistic students by teaching them real-life skills in an authentic home environment. The CARES House is a school that looks like a house and was the vision of Christy LaPaglia of Mentor Public Schools in Northeast Ohio. Christy designed the program and the house to be replicated in other school districts nationwide.

Mentor's CARES House: Autistic Education Comes Home

The Cardinal Autism Resource and Education School (CARES) was created fourteen years ago with the support of Mentor Public Schools in Northeast Ohio to further develop independence skills for autistic students aged 5 to 22. Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition related to brain growth that impacts how a person perceives and associates with others, causing difficulties in social interactions and communication. CARES is a public educational, training, and resource facility for children and young adults with autism, their families, and professionals entrusted with their care.

CARES began with two classrooms serving six students. By the end of the first school year, enrollment doubled to twelve students. The program was the inspiration of Christy LaPaglia when she was a teacher. She is now the Director of CARES and CARES Independent Living and Learning Environment. Christy reflected on the early years, “In our second year, we opened a lab to support students in learning Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). The space had a small kitchen, bedroom area, and a washer and dryer to expose students to a real-life experience.”

Families sometimes struggle to find an adequate educational system that supports students with autism. “My initial experiences with autistic students revealed the limitations of traditional teaching methods,” Christy recalled. “It wasn’t until I received targeted training and support from Mentor Public Schools that I understood the importance of ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking. This shift, adapting my approach to match their individual learning styles, made all the difference.”

To download the 16-page brochure, click HERE.

Mentor's CARES House: Autistic Education Comes Home

The CARES website explains that the program is a partnership with parents and the community, which provides a nurturing environment to develop the full potential of differently-abled students on the autistic spectrum using a multidisciplinary approach that addresses individual needs. It evolved by consolidating successful elements from other programs to create a unique curriculum.

The CARES Philosophy
CARES’s overriding goal is to provide a nurturing educational environment where students with autism can build on their strengths. To achieve its far-reaching mission, the school takes a comprehensive developmental approach, encompassing every aspect of a student’s life: social, emotional, academic, and behavioral. We believe that if students are given the right set of challenges and supportive strategies to overcome them, they will grow and achieve success.

The original vision for CARES was to serve the greater autism community by developing students’ strengths with the intent of later spreading the format to other school districts to help families and communities. Continued results and experimentation led to the conclusion that realistic environments better promote student achievement. The emerging successes in Mentor created the opportunity to open attendance to other school districts. CARES currently hosts students from sixteen school districts in Northeast Ohio.

"Along with academic skills, we wanted to teach kids how to live independently."

Christy LaPaglia

CARES Director

Mentor CARES Program in Mentor

The Big "House" Idea

The CARES program continued to be refined with increased demand. “As we grew and saw the successes that kids were having, our vision became larger,” Christy recalled, “And I kept thinking: We need a house.” A house would embody an authentic learning environment to best produce lasting results. Mentor Public Schools’ incorporation of an additional autistic school lab increased the student population while providing specialized advancement in teaching personalized skills.

Christy explained that the CARES House did not come about by the vision of one person. It was a collaboration of many passionate people who care deeply about educating students with autism. After Mentor Public Schools shared their support for the CARES expansion, Christy pursued input from parent panels to create a cutting-edge program focused on teaching life skills with the goal of student independence after graduation. Parents were asked about the issues they experienced with their children and provided invaluable feedback about the ideal components the new house should have.

A property across the street from CARES was up for sale, and Christy approached the school district about using the location to build the CARES House. It was seen as a necessary piece of the educational process to better advance children with autism, and the project was approved. The property was purchased in June 2022.

The City of Mentor stipulated that the new house had to maintain the character of the existing neighborhood and be a beneficial, saleable property should the program cease. It would be a school that looked and functioned like a residential home that also had several amenities not offered in a typical house.

The CARES House was a shared vision designed to be a model home that could offer students a more realistic experience for learning life skills that could be seamlessly utilized in their own homes. The house would implement customized technologies with practical functionality to better serve a family with autistic children.

ThenDesign Architecture has had a strong relationship with Mentor Public Schools spanning decades. In 2011, the renovation of a wing in an elementary school converted the space into the CARES autism school and resource center. The school has grade-level specific rooms with specialized equipment to teach students general curriculum, life, and social skills. Since then, TDA has partnered with the district on numerous projects.

“Even before TDA did our high school renovation, I established a great working relationship with their architect, Ryan Schmit,” Christy said. “When I was ready to start this innovative independent learning house, I pitched Ryan my crazy ideas. He understood how my mind worked and suggested things I never even thought about.”

ThenDesign Architecture President Chris Smith, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C, was enthusiastic about the pro bono project and understood the importance of the CARES House for the autistic community. “TDA enjoys a long history of giving. The concept for the CARES House has the potential to impact lives and make a significant contribution to the autism community. When the opportunity to participate in this incredibly noteworthy project arose, we didn’t hesitate to donate our services.”

“It was exciting to be a part of the CARES project,” said TDA Project Manager Ryan Schmit, RA. “The program does amazing work and has positively affected hundreds of children and families since the facility opened. It has been so successful that families have moved to Mentor just to be closer to it.”

“Our history with Mentor Public Schools is a great example of how we create powerful relationships with our clients and become more than consultants but trusted advisors,” said ThenDesign Architecture Founding Partner and Executive Chair Robert Fiala, AIA, NCARB, APA. “We value the privilege of providing expertise to our clients and adding value to their communities.”

"The CARES House provides a nurturing environment for an overlooked population."

Robert Fiala, AIA

Founding Partner, ThenDesign Architecture

From the Ground Up

Having a school look and function as a residential home created design and construction challenges. The team had to find creative solutions to practical problems to attain a dual permit. After deciding that TDA would be the designer of choice, the next hurdle was finding an experienced residential construction company with the skills to accomplish unique goals while respecting the tight budget.

Christy sought assistance from various vendors in the area. “Many builders were intrigued by the project but not interested. ProBuilt Homes was the first to express genuine curiosity,” Christy recalled. “We sat down, and I explained the project and what we wanted. They agreed to collaborate, and it proved to be a wonderful partnership.”

The house was planned to be a comfortable, warm, and inviting space that served as a school in a suburban neighborhood. The blend of commercial and residential materials, technology, amenities, and design features made the project a unique opportunity for ProBuilt Homes and ThenDesign Architecture.

“It was exciting to take on such an unusual project,” said ProBuilt Homes Director of Operations Bob Myers. “Working closely with TDA, we helped Christy realize her dream. We typically work on homes that have seven or eight pages of blueprints. Ryan designed the house with a hundred. It was quite challenging, but the end result is where we shined. It fits well into the neighborhood, and nobody driving by would know that this house is actually a school.”

The key to success in constructing the CARES House was gathering enthused, dedicated partners. Horner Networks worked closely with the Mentor Public Schools’ IT Department to overcome the unusual challenges of the house’s customized technology needs. Other vendors included Ohio Desk and Kruger International (KI).

ThenDesign Architecture Architect Ryan Schmit gained support from the managing partners because the project aligned perfectly with the company’s core values of serving the community and improving students’ lives. Due to the healthy relationship established during past projects with Mentor Public Schools, the driving forces behind the decision to support CARES by donating time and resources was based upon the chance for the firm to help empower autistic students.

“The innovative depths of the CARES House run parallel with our firm’s mission,” said Robert Fiala. “The project combined our core values, social conscience, and expertise in educational design to create something for a broader audience. Our core values are more than creating relationships with clients and running a successful architecture firm. It has to do with investing in the communities we serve. We are proud to support the CARES program that empowers autistic students.”

The CARES House officially opened for the 2024-2025 school year.

"Working directly with families inspired what the house became."

Christy LaPaglia

CARES Director

Mentor's CARES House Construction

Technical Features Support Autistic Students

Safety was at the forefront of all design considerations. The 2,540 SF single-story CARES House is a natural learning space that provides a one-of-a-kind experience with specialized amenities that offer a comfortable and safety-centric environment.

TDA, ProBuilt Homes, and other vendors worked closely with Christy to implement unique technologies to support autistic families. Based on parent feedback and wish list items, the features evolved far beyond standard doors and bathtubs.

CARES House Features Include:

- - A video display built into the bathroom mirror steps through various hygiene instructions.
  - The wet restroom features a sensory bathtub that utilizes bubbles and lights.
  - The simple button toilets use concealed water tanks.
  - A house-wide sound system plays verbal cues to assist with the transition between activities.
  - Non-verbal students can communicate ideas by pushing designated buttons on the walls.
  - Specialized lighting adjusts colors to indicate bedtime, wake-up time, or conclusion of an activity.
  - Monitors instruct students by displaying tasks and chores.
  - Parents can observe activities from a monitor or phone through an in-house camera system.
  - Dutch doors can be half-closed, allowing parents to supervise activities while providing a sense of privacy.
  - The garage has changing station lockers and a sensory area.
  - The exercise space in the garage has a treadmill, weights, and trampoline.
  - Patio railings and a gated porch allow younger children to be outside in a more controlled environment.
  - Exterior doors beep when they open to indicate that someone is entering or exiting.
  - The kitchen range is a cool touch inductive stove for advanced safety.
  - The lockable refrigerator is inside the butler pantry behind lockable doors to prevent unsupervised access.
  - Adjustable window blinds are encased inside the glass.
  - TVs are built into the bedroom walls to prevent damage.
  - The living room fireplace is a no-heat video display.

The basement is the staff and parent training center, but it is also used for student movement exercises and playing games. When parents are invited to the house, they can participate in interactive lectures and group discussions. Every part of the house serves to better assist autistic students and their families.

“It was nice to collaborate with others who shared the vision of the CARES House,” remarked CARES Assistant Director Brittni Mejac. “They found clever solutions to the features we wanted to have. Now, the sky’s the limit.”

“We wanted to expand the skills we could provide, like cooking, maintaining a house, taking out the garbage, landscaping, and washing windows,” Christy said. “They will also learn how to live with others.” The goal of the house is to have students become an independent, productive part of the job force and community.

"The students thrive, and the students have so much success."

Dawn Budziak

Parent

Mentor's CARES House Details

A Very Active House

“At the heart of our success is the ‘CARES Way,’” Christy said. “It’s a commitment to continuous learning, embracing change, and fostering a culture of kindness. Our team, who face demanding challenges daily, embody these principles. Their dedication is unparalleled, and I’m incredibly fortunate to work alongside such exceptional individuals.”

The experienced, highly-trained staff provides specialized instruction for each student with different needs. Students on the autism spectrum can range from verbal to non-verbal, requiring different approaches to suit their cognitive circumstances. Due to this, students and staff adapt activities and instructions on an individual basis.

CARES in Mentor has three occupational therapists, three speech therapists, three behavioral specialists, and one transition coordinator. Intervention Specialist Lindsey Hesson noted the progress in the first year of the CARES House, “The things that we’ve been working on for three years are being mastered here because it’s real life. It’s what they do at home. I’m blown away by how much they’ve grown.”

Autistic students can struggle to learn through traditional academics but have found success in retaining information by experiencing functional skills like reading and math in real-life situations. Checking a grocery list, organizing chores, measuring meal ingredients, and managing money using a credit card provide practical circumstances supporting independence.

The CARES House program is customized for maximum impact and success. Employing thoughtful routines, the students gain skills from repetition and personalized instruction. Lindsey described an outline for a day in the life of a CARES House student.

After the students arrive and enter through the garage, they use their designated lockers to put away coats and switch into their indoor shoes. They enter the house and check the daily schedule. Each student chooses which order to complete their morning routine of breakfast, hygiene, or sensory activity. Some enjoy bouncing on a ball in a quiet room, while others walk around the neighborhood. All staff and students meet in the living room to discuss the forthcoming day. Binders supply rotating chores and leisure activities to choose from and assign.

Some activities are weather-dependent, requiring creativity to maintain. This may include walking a designated path in the large basement rather than outside.

Students enjoy group activities like cooking, following an exercise video, or playing board games. Individual instruction to work on speech and set personal goals is implemented. They will also engage in service projects like preparing meals for teachers across the street to acclimate them to public interactions and serve the community.

“We make our lunches and sit down together,” Lindsey said, “This is one of my favorite parts of the day.”

After the meal, the students do their afternoon chores, such as cleaning the bathroom, vacuuming, or doing laundry. These household tasks teach personal responsibility while instilling a healthy work ethic to promote independence. Most afternoons end with leisure or movement activities or a group walk.

Community outings to the mall or grocery store help them feel more comfortable in a public space, exposing them to personal shopping and financial management. Bowling has become a cherished group activity at the CARES House.

There is a strong belief that CARES students can be successful in helping their community. “Training students to be independent allows them to engage in public activities, but also to just be a good neighbor,” Brittni said.

"This house is the ultimate puzzle piece we were missing."

Tara Krall

Occupational Therapist

A Joyful House

Director of CARES Christy LaPaglia said, “Building the project was easy. Convincing people of its value was something else. It took just the right people to believe in the program and make it happen.” The early struggles of the program have paid off as momentum continues to build.

“Doing the unusual has made the program incredibly successful,” Christy noted, “Once parents came in to see what we have and I explained the program, they were fully on board. The CARES House provides an opportunity for parents to experience the features we have so they can implement them in their own homes.”

The CARES House helps parents see what their children are capable of. When a dedicated and passionate staff invests in the success and well-being of their students, the program can make a profound impact, delivering meaningful rewards for instructors, students, and their families.

Dawn Budziak has a son in the CARES program. “CARES has done a fantastic job planning and constructing this house. Every aspect of this home is tailored for students with autism. This year, there has been a 100% improvement in all aspects of Ben’s life.”

Another parent with a son in the CARES program is Clinical Psychologist Dr. Sherri McClurg, “We’ve just loved what they’ve done with the program. It has been phenomenal for Nic. We are blessed to be here in the house for the first year. We love what CARES has created both at the school and now at the house.” Sherri added, “We have been very, very happy.”

“I’ve noticed a lot of positives in my students,” said CARES Occupational Therapist Tara Krall. “I’ve seen them grow in their sense of pride. I’m getting a lot more smiles and high-fives now. It’s really exciting.”

“The kids love coming to school every day,” said CARES Intervention Specialist Lindsey Hesson. “They’re happy to be here, and that brings me a lot of joy.”

CARES Assistant Director Brittni Mejac echoed the sentiments of her fellow staff members, “The staff believes in this unique program because it provides endless opportunities. CARES is where my heart lies.”

Mentor School Board President Maggie Cook toured the CARES House and was impressed by the features it provides. “I’m so proud to support this innovative program. The students are being pushed to their highest potential, and we hear success stories.”

Mentor Public Schools Superintendent Craig Heath has been a staunch supporter of the CARES program from the beginning. He said, “Every single student has a gift. As educators, we help our students identify and nurture those gifts so they can grow academically, socially, and emotionally. This house provides unique tools for our students to develop the skills they need to share their gifts with the community.”

"I know what we've got here. This is gold."

Dr. Sherri McClurg

Parent

Mentor's CARES House Improves Lives

Graduating Into Independence

As students approach graduation from the CARES program at age 22, they work with Transition Coordinator Justin Bednarz to further develop their social and employment readiness skills. “We begin transitioning students from school-age services to the adult world so they can get a job or move into a group home,” Justin said. The CARES House utilizes natural settings to help students thrive.

Since the needs of each student are different, it is vital that the parents are involved because they have a significant role in student development. Justin works with parents, teachers, the Lake County board, and the Chamber of Commerce to spread community awareness and seek additional resources.

Justin explained, “The more comfortable the community and local businesses are, the more successful our students will be. They can spread their wings, but that is only possible with community support. A beautiful transition is when a student can move into a group home and get a job. It is never easy, but the skills they learn will increase their opportunities for success.”

"The CARES House provides unique student development tools to nurture their gifts."

Craig Heath

Superintendent, Mentor Public Schools

Mentor's CARES House in Action

Mentor CARES House: A Hopeful Future

The CARES program was designed to be adaptable so it can be replicated nationally and give autistic students a greater chance of a successful adulthood. Justin expressed his hopes for further prosperity, “I’m excited to see our growth. It would be great for this to be a model house where people can come and see what we do here.”

Christy said, “I’m so grateful to the Mentor administration and the Mentor Board of Education for supporting this project from the very beginning.” She continued, “I would love to see this program duplicated in other public school districts across the country.”

The CARES program in Mentor reaches its capacity every school year. “We’re full here, and it kills me that we can’t take on more students. I get calls every day,” Christy said.

Parent Dawn Budziak was grateful for the CARES House and its notable impact on her family. “I didn’t really understand how important something like this was until it was here. Every kid needs an opportunity to try something like this.”

TDA Project Manager Ryan Schmit, RA, expressed optimism for the potential of the CARES House as a prototype for other programs, “I’m excited because the house is very impressive. But I’m more excited to see how it evolves and grows into other areas.”

With the help of a supportive school board, other districts can build a similar program based on the CARES and CARES House framework. According to Christy, those willing to invest in the program will reap the rewards. “I hope more families tour the house to see the technologies and features so they can adapt them into their own homes.”

“This isn’t the first time TDA has partnered with our clients to create a new educational model,” said Chris Smith. “It’s always inspirational for our designers to actively participate in unique and inventive projects. We are truly proud of our longstanding partnership with Mentor Public Schools and the innovative CARES House.”

Christy shared her vision for opening the program to communities and families. “I want them to come to witness what we have done and see our successes. Then, they can take the bits and pieces that work for them and build their own.”

The Mentor Public Schools’ CARES program currently services sixteen additional school districts in the area. When programs open in other states, it would be possible to provide more autistic students with the same life-changing opportunities.

If you would like a PDF version of this article, click the link HERE.

"I would love to see the CARES program duplicated across the country."

Christy LaPaglia

CARES Director

https://cares.mentorschools.net

Marc Cebrian

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