Ware Public Schools welcomed Mr. Lavigne in August 2019 as the 7th & 8th Grade Art Teacher at Ware Junior Senior High School. As a native to the Pioneer Valley, Mr. Lavigne was excited to take the position in Ware and move closer to home, friends and family.
Mr. Lavigne’s favorite part of teaching art is to teach that it is pervasive throughout many different facets and directions of our lived experiences. Everything is designed or created by someone. Mr. Lavigne likes being able to see the “a-ha” moment and help share the world of art with his students.
While teaching English to Spanish-speaking Central American Immigrants while living in New Orleans in 2014, Mr. Lavigne decided he wanted to be a teacher. He loved helping people with their real-world problems and being a valuable resource to those who needed help. Ultimately, he wanted to involve his personal interest in Art and Design.
Mr. Lavigne is a 2018 graduate of UMASS Amherst with a BFA in Art Education and is certified K-12. He is currently enrolled in an online graduate school program focusing on curriculum development and a watercolor studio course. Prior to teaching in Ware, Mr. Lavigne taught grades 7-12 at Millbury Junior/Senior High School. He student taught at West Springfield High School and Veteran’s Park Elementary School in Ludlow. Mr. Lavigne recently completed his second summer of teaching ceramics to children ages 6-16 at Camp Ramah in Palmer.
Outside of the classroom you can find Mr. Lavigne tending to his garden in the summer where he loves to grow new plants; tomatoes, zucchini, squash, kale, tomatillos, black beans, sugar snap peas, eggplant, etc… He has been a vegetarian for most of his life so cooking with the fresh crops and herbs has become one of his passions. In his personal art career, he is mainly a potter. Keep an eye peeled for when Mr. Lavigne’s work begins being sold locally!