Indiana. Martin Sams, Principal Architect, has earned the Accredited Learning Environment Planner (ALEP) credential through the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE), joining an elite group of professionals dedicated to creating innovative, student-centered learning environments. In fact, he is only the 5th ALEP in Indiana.
The ALEP certification is recognized as the premier credential for professionals involved in planning, designing, and developing educational facilities. The rigorous year-long program combines educational research, planning principles, and collaborative best practices to equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to help school districts create learning environments that support student success now and into the future.
“Receiving my ALEP certification has been an incredibly rewarding experience,” said Sams. “Over the past year, I have had the opportunity to learn from some of the most respected leaders in educational planning and design while collaborating with professionals from across the education industry. The program expanded my understanding of educational theory, emerging learning models, and stakeholder engagement—knowledge that I’m already applying to help our school clients create spaces that better support teaching, learning, and their long-term goals.”
Throughout the program, participants explored topics including educational visioning, instructional delivery, community engagement, facility planning, and the relationship between the built environment and student outcomes. The experience also emphasized consensus-building and stakeholder collaboration, helping professionals lead more effective planning processes that align facilities with a district’s educational mission.
One of the most valuable aspects of the certification program was the opportunity to learn alongside a multidisciplinary cohort of professionals, including school administrators, state department of education leaders, curriculum specialists, architects, planners, and industry partners. These diverse perspectives reinforced the importance of collaboration in creating meaningful learning environments that serve students, educators, and communities alike.
Performance Services has long partnered with K-12 school districts to plan, design, and construct facilities that enhance learning environments and support each district’s educational vision. With the addition of another ALEP-certified professional, we continue to strengthen our expertise in educational planning and student-centered facility design.
To learn more about the Association for Learning Environments and the Accredited Learning Environment Planning certification program, visit https://www.a4le.org/A4LE/A4LE/Resources/ALEP/ALEP.aspx.
