How Monitoring CO2 Levels Can Improve Classroom Engagement With Roger Silveira, Director of Facilities Maintenance and Operations and Founder of We Need Fresh Air

Roger Silveira is the Director of Facilities Maintenance and Operations at East Side Union High School District and the Founder of We Need Fresh Air. We Need Fresh Air is an organization focused on reducing the health problems caused by indoor air pollution and poor ventilation in the classroom. 

He has been in the construction and building maintenance industry for over 30 years. Roger found his true calling in education and helping to deliver a healthy learning environment for students.

In this episode…

What is the importance of building proper ventilation in classrooms? What are the benefits? Do school CO2 levels matter when it comes to education?

For Roger Silveira, proper ventilation and monitoring of CO2 levels have been at the forefront of his work, especially as we navigate through the pandemic. According to Roger, there is a correlation between student achievement, attendance, and the levels of CO2 in the classroom. Air quality can play a role in your feelings and cognitive abilities — and in the classroom environment, mental sharpness is essential for children. When the air is properly filtrated, test scores and student performance increase. 

In this episode of Watching Paint Dry, Greg Owens talks with Roger Silveira, Director of Facilities Maintenance and Operations at East Side Union High School District and Founder of We Need Fresh Air, about the importance of recirculation systems inside the classroom. Roger discusses funding the filtration systems, the correlation between CO2 levels and the student environment, and techniques to promote the education of air purification systems.