Dear Alumni,
I want to introduce myself, for those of you who may not know me - I’m Tara Parsons, Art Department Head, and I’ve been teaching woodshop and art at Allen-Stevenson for 25(!) years.
I don’t know if you remember your first day at Allen-Stevenson, but I sure do. I was interviewing for the job, and much like a boy on his first day here, I was nervous. I wasn’t sure I was making a good impression. It turns out that I didn’t need to be too nervous as the adults around me were generous with their knowledge and support, and the children were fun and willing to give this rookie teacher their attention. I also must have made a good impression, somehow, because despite having a student cut himself with a tool during my lesson, I was still offered the job!
What I loved about the students at Allen-Stevenson from the very start was that they were fearless, curious, and ready for anything. The boys from my early days at Allen-Stevenson have grown up and moved on, but the students remain as enthusiastic as ever and driven to take on creative challenges. We are flourishing in our new art spaces with beautiful skylights in the art studios and wood and light everywhere in the woodshop. If you come to visit, you will find some of the same nurturing teachers that you remember - Julia Kunin and Alex Expósito, as well as our newest full-time art teacher, Ingrid Menéndez. Jaison Spain '97 is now the woodshop assistant, inspiring boys to be their best selves, while Anis Ghanem helps guide the film students. The sound of joyful creating is always making itself known on the Fifth Floor!
While I love my day-to-day art-making with students, my absolute favorite thing as a teacher is when my students re-emerge as young adults in the wider community. Several years ago, I was in Central Park, and a young man rolled up on a bicycle and asked if I was “Ms. Parsons?” To my surprise, a former student recognized me. He also happened to have a crush on a woman who I was riding with that day. Two years later, I attended their wedding!
All of Allen-Stevenson’s art teachers have run into students here in the city, often at gallery openings in Chelsea or the Lower East Side. We love mentoring artists after they leave Allen-Stevenson. And seeing our student’s successes out in the world is the truest reward as a dedicated teacher and mentor.
If you are in any of the creative fields (or even if you aren’t!) come by to see our new performing arts and visual arts spaces — they are quite impressive! Our Arts Festival is February 1–3; it’s being showcased on the First Floor in the Assembly Hall. You’ll be inspired by our young artists, you can connect with your former teachers, and you can even submit your artwork to the A-Z files!
And, as always, be fearless, curious, and ready for anything!
Tara Parsons
