A4E INSIGHTS: POST-PANDEMIC EDUCATION, ACCORDING TO THE EDUCATORS BY OLIVIA GRAF DOYLE, A4E DESIGN PRINCIPAL & PARTNER As the Design Principal and Partner at A4E, Olivia Graf Doyle sought direct knowledge of the pandemic impact on learning environments and the changing future of education. Her interview with the following three educators provided insightful expertise for evolving A4E’s educational design strategy in a post-pandemic world: Carey Upton, Chief Operations Officer at the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, Dr. John Puglisi, Superintendent of the Rio School District in Oxnard, California, and Alexander Boekelheide, of Pasadena City College. Carey Upton Chief Operations Officer: Maintenance, Operations, Transportation and Facilities Use Departments, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Carey Upton’s unconventional journey to supervising school facilities includes directing, designing, producing, and stage managing over 400 theater productions at major regional theaters. These extensive experiences have led to the passion for engaging learning environments that he brings to SMMUSD.
Dr. John Puglisi Superintendent, Rio School District John Puglisi, Ph.D. has worked as superintendent for three California school Districts over the last twenty years and has worked as an educator in K-12 schools for thirtysix years. John also serves as adjunct professor at California State University Channel Islands and California Lutheran University. In addition, Dr. Puglisi is an active educational researcher with multiple publications, a musician, artist, husband, and father of three. Alex Boekelheide Executive Director, Strategic Communications and Marketing, Pasadena City College Alex Boekelheide has served higher education in a communications role for the last twenty-five years, and Pasadena City College since 2015. He is a multimedia communication professional with deep experience in nonprofit strategic communication and holds a Master of Arts in Communication Management from the University of Southern California. He also sits on the board of Pasadena Media.