Welcome to the NK Arts Council’s first edition of sharing stories of local artists who make a difference in our lives.
Alicia Skaggs, an art teacher at Wickford Middle School has impacted the lives of many students. After several years of working as a Design Director, in New York City, she decided she really wanted to help children discover the joy of creating art. To that end, she earned her teaching certificate, and was thrilled to join the North Kingstown School faculty in 2015.
Alicia’s enthusiasm as well as her ability to connect with students and their needs have contributed to the happiness, success and maturing of those with whom she works. She loves helping students explore dozens of art forms such as sculpture, sewing, weaving, pottery, seaweed art, digital art and painting with various mediums as they learn about other cultures and ways of life.
While teaching students about art techniques, she helps them discover talents they didn’t know they had. For a teacher as dedicated as Alicia, there is nothing more thrilling than watching students open new doors of learning while also discovering something wonderful about themselves.
In order to provide the many experiences that enrich the world of these young students, Alicia employs the use of many resources. Her students’ projects typically involve both sides of the brain requiring problem solving, imagination, innovation, thinking outside the box and self- confidence.
After all this creating, students had an opportunity to have a piece of their work hung in a town wide exhibit at the North Kingstown Library. The show ran through March 31. We were amazed by the talents our students have developed thanks to Alicia and her teaching counterparts.
