“Unlocking the Next Level with VariQuest”

Spring Park Elementary, home of the Gators in Jacksonville, FL, has seen a big impact since adding the VariQuest tools to their school. According to Media Specialist Ms. Gideon, the VariQuest Perfecta® Poster Design System and the VariQuest Cutout Maker have become everyday resources for teachers and staff, helping with everything from classroom visuals to hallway displays. Purchased with Title I Funding, the tools have given the school a more modern, efficient way to create professional materials that support both learning and school culture.

Creative Displays That Motivate Students

One of the most common uses for the VariQuest tools at Spring Park is in building bulletin boards. Recently, Ms. Gideon needed to refresh her morning checkout board, which tracks how many students borrow books each day. With the school’s theme of “Next Level Unlocked,” she used the Cutout Maker to create keys representing student checkouts, quickly transforming the display.

“I just very quickly went to the Cutout Maker to cut out letters and plopped them up,” she explained. “It was amazing how quick and fast and fabulous the bulletin board looked right after I did it.” These quick updates make it easy for teachers to keep displays exciting, motivating students while also reinforcing schoolwide goals and themes.

Supporting Classroom Learning

Teachers across grade levels also use the VariQuest tools to make instruction more effective. The Perfecta® Poster Design System is a favorite for creating anchor charts, giving students visual guides to reference during lessons. “Before, we were all just sketching it in our best—or not best—handwriting,” Ms. Gideon said. “Visually, it’s much better and more concise if we can just print it out.”

In the library, the Cutout Maker helps with organization. Ms. Gideon uses it to label the ends of bookshelves so students can more easily find the books they’re looking for. Simple, clear signage has boosted student independence and confidence.

The tools also support student engagement through positive behavior rewards. Ms. Gideon has made fun cutouts—like animals and shapes—that students earn for being quiet and respectful during dismissal. Teachers, including those in special education, have noticed the benefits and adapted similar strategies for their classrooms.

Built for Schools

While many teachers are familiar with crafting machines like the Cricut®, Ms. Gideon believes the VariQuest tools are far better-suited for education. “The people that have had Cricuts in their life think they’re fantastic,” she said. “But this VariQuest machine [the Cutout Maker] beats it by far.”

Unlike other creative tools, the VariQuest tools are designed to quickly produce large, durable, and educationally relevant visuals that schools can use every day. This makes them practical and reliable resources for teachers who need materials fast.

Maximizing Impact Through Awareness

While the tools have already made a big difference, Ms. Gideon sees even more potential in raising awareness of their features. She was especially impressed when she discovered the Engage Every Learner® Content preloaded on the VariQuest Design Center that was included with the Poster Design System.

“You’ve taken the things teachers already need and made a poster for it,” she said. “We’re supposed to have all these posters up in our rooms to reference, and VariQuest already has them ready for us.”

She compares the VariQuest Design Center to a more focused version of Canva® —only designed strictly for education and directly connected to the VariQuest tools. With thousands of premade templates, graphics, fonts, and cutouts, teachers can create professional visuals without any graphic design skills or knowledge. 

Conclusion 

At Spring Park Elementary, the VariQuest tools have truly “unlocked the next level” of student engagement. From energizing bulletin boards to improving classroom instruction and rewarding positive behavior, the VariQuest Perfecta® Poster Design System and Cutout Maker empower staff to work more efficiently while inspiring students every day. As Ms. Gideon puts it: “It’s exactly what teachers need.”