AHS teams with IKEA to offer interactive student workshops

Arlington High School and IKEA Memphis are thrilled to announce an innovative new partnership that will provide students with unparalleled hands-on learning experiences, offering a behind- the-scenes look into IKEA’s global business model. This collaboration, spearheaded by ACS Secondary Education Supervisor Kim Douglas, is designed to give AHS students the opportunity to explore various career paths, while aligning directly with the district’s Portrait of an ACS Graduate Strategic Plan.

Both organizations have worked closely together for the past several months to develop a series of interactive workshops that will allow students to dive deep into business areas like sustainability, interior design, marketing, entrepreneurship and retail management. These workshops are tailored to provide students with critical skills that are aligned with the district’s goal to help students Communicate Effectively, Collaborate Intentionally, Cultivate Creativity, Be Resilient and Lead with Empathy – the five core tenants of an ACS graduate.

“This partnership with IKEA is an opportunity to bring our philosophy of experiential learning to life on a whole new level,” said Superintendent Dr. Allison Clark. “In ACS, we believe the most powerful way to prepare our students for the future is by immersing them in real-world experiences that develop both their skills and their confidence. Our teachers have already built incredible programs, and this collaboration with IKEA allows us to extend that impact.”

“At IKEA Memphis, we are on a mission to create a better everyday life for people around the world, and we take our responsibility to local communities seriously,” said Larry Edwards, IKEA Business Navigation & Operations Manager. “By partnering with Arlington Community Schools and working together on thoughtful, enduring actions, we both aim to make a positive impact on both people and the planet.”

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A Collaborative Path to Career Exploration

What makes this partnership unique is how it blends real-world business insights with student-driven data, made possible through the district’s use of SchoolLinks. This program allows students to explore their career interests and take self-discovery assessments. When identifying possible workshops, Kim Douglas utilized student data from SchoolLinks to curate workshops that are most relevant to student interests.

“By using this, we’re not just guessing what interests our students – we’re identifying their passions and connecting them directly with experts from IKEA to nurture those talents,” Douglas said. “It’s an incredible tool that not only shapes what we offer at the high school level but also bridges those opportunities to the broader business community and to partners like IKEA.”

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What’s in Store for Students?

Some of the IKEA-led workshops will include:

• Business Navigation & Operations Workshop: Students will work on real business cases, exploring the practical aspects of business operations such as budgeting, key performance indicator (KPI) tracking and inventory management. This workshop will give students a strong understanding of how day-to-day operations drive business success.
   
• Sustainability Fair: As sustainability is central to IKEA’s ethos, this workshop will take students through the company's eco-friendly initiatives, product quality, and recovery practices. Students will learn how IKEA’s sustainability efforts influence its product lifecycle and its broader environmental impact.
   
• Interior Design: Students will experience IKEA's showroom firsthand, working with interior and graphic design professionals to understand the principles of layout, product placement and display aesthetics. They'll even have the chance to set up displays themselves, honing their design and presentation skills.
   
• IKEA Restaurant: Students will get an inside look at IKEA's food operations, learning about restaurant management and the sustainable development of IKEA’s menu offerings. The experience will include a tasting session to explore the business side of food services.
   
• Psychology in the Workplace: Through an interactive session with IKEA’s HR team, students will explore team dynamics, leadership and how psychological principles apply in the workplace to foster effective collaboration and success.

IKEA representatives will also collaborate with our top-level STEM students on a design project, guiding them through the concept phase to a prototype.

“This partnership with IKEA could be a game-changer for our students and their future ambitions,” said Scott Benjamin, ACS Board Chairman. “It’s a direct extension of what we hope for every day in Arlington – that’s giving our students the chance to find out what excites them and what motivates them to get up and go every day. This is how we prepare our students not just for the next step, but for life beyond high school. It’s about building their confidence and giving them experiences that will inspire them in ways we can’t even fathom right now.”