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 

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, Numerous inspiring LuHi service trips to Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and Guatemala

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.