Department: Visual Arts
Mrs. Kristen Taylor
Mrs. Kristen Taylor
LuHi Role: Teacher (Visual Arts), joined the LuHi faculty in 2022
Education: LIU Brookville BA English, Art & Business concentration; LIU Brookville MS Art Education, MS Education Administration
What I love about my role:My passion for creating and participating in the arts began as a young child. I appreciate working at LuHi because of the freedom to explore different art mediums and movements and to encourage my students love for learning and the visual arts.
Previous professional experience: I taught Elementary and High school level Art and Elementary Science Research & Makerspace in the public school system prior to joining LuHi.
Hobbies: Art, Hiking, Weight training
What I love about LuHi: I love the the direct line of communication that teachers share with the administrators at LuHi and the sense of community that the staff and faculty have for each other, the families and the students.
Mr. Joseph Baumgarn
Mr. Joseph Baumgarn
LuHi Role: Teacher (Visual Arts) and Visual Arts Department Chair; joined the LuHi faculty in 2010
Education: Bethel University, BS in Biology; Bethel University, BA in Visual Arts with teaching certification (magna cum laude); Bethel University, MA in Art Education (near completion)
What I love about my role: I especially love working individually with students on artistic projects. It is such a joy to see students go from the early stages of learning artistic skills, to the confidence and pride they have in completing their personal work. I also have enjoyed the open collaboration that I have always had with the other teachers within the school, and especially within the department.
Hobbies: Doing my own artwork, watching videos online of others creating artwork, Freshwater fishing, Basketball
Family: I’m married to Paula Oyarce, Spanish teacher at LuHi and we met as coworkers
Awards and other experience: 2013 LSA Teacher of the Year, 2020 LuHi Randy Abbe Award winner, 7 Inspiring LuHi Service trips to Nicaragua and Puerto Rico
What I love about LuHi: It is hard to imagine a more rewarding teaching job than being at LuHi. I have thoroughly enjoyed being able to share my passions of learning about art, making art and pushing ones creativity with the students in the small class sizes. There has always been a strong emphasis on the Arts at LuHi and an understanding of how important they are to the whole being of our students. At the core of teaching at LuHi is also the Christian mission of faith. The ability to teach, with openness toward my faith walk and passions within the God-given talents of the visual arts, has been a blessing for many years.