Teacher of the Week: Alex Lugo, Art and Graphic Design, Arcola High School

For the last 14 years, Alex Lugo has taught students at Arcola High School to use art to express themselves. In his art and graphic design classes, the Hoopeston native helps them develop both artistic and practical skills, like catering to the needs of a graphic design client in a dual-credit course with Parkland College.

“Mr. Lugo brings so much into our art programs,” Principal Nick Lindsey said. “He has the balance of being extremely talented at his craft while being able to utilize his personal skills to develop lasting relationships with his parents as well. I would put our art department up against any in the area with our teachers and talented students, and Mr. Lugo is a huge part of that.”

I find my work important because … art class is one of the few classes that allows students to express their creativity and have fun. There is no right or wrong way to create art, which encourages experimentation. It’s important to have a relaxed atmosphere where students can bond and decompress while being creative.

I became a teacher because … I loved my art classes when I was in school. Art was the one class I looked forward to every day. I wanted to create a positive space for students to nurture that same love and passion for developing artistic skills and techniques as I had. My goal is to help students find enjoyment in some aspect of art so they continue to use it throughout their lives, whether it’s a career in the arts or just for fun. It can be a great way to relieve stress.

My favorite/most unique lesson that I teach is … In graphic design, I teach a lesson that mimics what it’s like to work with a client. Each student goes through the process of developing a business proposal, which includes the name, product and target audience. The name of each business is thrown into a hat for a random draw. At that moment, the students become professional freelance designers. It is their responsibility to talk to their “client” about their vision for a business logo. It is so fun to see what students create for each other and how they interact with one another. It’s a great life experience for them.

My most fulfilling moments on the job are when … I can see the smiles and excitement when students complete a project or work through a challenging part of a project. It’s very rewarding to see how proud they feel about the art they create. I also love seeing students’ faces glow when they see their art on display at the numerous art shows held all around central Illinois.

I keep students engaged by … I make sure projects are relative and relevant to the students’ interests. They have lots of opportunities to choose themes, techniques, media and subjects for their projects, which generally helps them stay motivated. We also listen to a lot of music to add to the creative vibe.

Something else I’m passionate about is … spending time with my beautiful family. My wife and children are my entire world. Seeing them laugh and enjoying life to the fullest is what I live for!

My favorite teacher and subject to study in school was … Mr. Ankenbrand, who was my high school art teacher at Hoopeston Area High School, was hands down my favorite teacher. He always challenged me to get better and better at making art. I can remember him making sure we had access to any supplies we needed for projects we wanted to do. I loved how he’d give me side projects like designing or modifying the Jerkey, designing T-shirts and yearbook covers, and painting a graffiti mural on the side of his garage to promote HAHS. He was a huge part of why I decided to teach.

If I weren’t a teacher, I would be … I think I’d want to be a graphic designer or run a screen-printing shop making different apparel. I would definitely need it to be a profession that allows me to be creative.

— ANTHONY ZILIS