We are thrilled to celebrate SMMA Educational Planner, Rosemary Park, who has earned the Accredited Learning Environments Planner (ALEP) designation. ALEP identifies people as professionals in the educational environment industry who exhibit the key skills required for planning, designing, equipping, and maintaining learning spaces.
Park joined SMMA two years ago and has made a significant impact in our K-12 group. She has led the educational planning and programming efforts for schools in several communities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Park has also been a key resource for colleagues, organizing influential conversations and sharing expertise on topics including neurodiversity in learning spaces.
“I am honored and humbled to have earned the ALEP designation and to stand alongside esteemed experts in the K-12 industry,” said Park. “It reflects my deep commitment to shaping learning environments that inspire, support, and welcome all. This accreditation represents not just expertise, but my passion for creating spaces where students and educators can thrive.”
“I believe that learning environments should nurture the whole student, addressing not only academic needs but emotional, social, and physical well-being, creating a supportive foundation for holistic success. Schools have the power to transform lives—they are places where barriers dissolve, potential is unlocked, and students of all abilities are empowered to thrive. I am deeply grateful to have the opportunity to contribute to this transformative process.”
Rosemary Park
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. Park completed A4LE’s Advanced Academy, a rigorous 10-month long program designed by industry experts, to earn the credential.
The Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) is the only professional organization whose principal purpose is improving the places where children learn. A4LE embraces a diverse group of professionals with one single goal—building healthy, safe, high performance and sustainable learning environments that enhance student and teacher performance and support culture and community vitality.
"We are so incredibly proud of Rosemary for this amazing accomplishment. Having only joined SMMA in 2022, she has blown us away with her unwavering work ethic, leadership, and passion for creating truly exceptional learning spaces for the students we serve. Our K12 team is made up of dedicated people who care deeply about how great design impacts young minds, and Rosemary is an extraordinary example of that commitment. Well done, Rosemary!”
Lorraine Finnegan, Senior Vice President and K12 Market Leader
This achievement was honored last month during A4LE’s LearningSCAPES conference in Portland, OR. Park joins others at SMMA who hold this accreditation, including Phil Poinelli and Matt Rice.