Profiles of New(ish) Faculty Members

By Lachlan DeAtley ’24

Lauren Schmidt currently teaches seventh, ninth, eleventh, and twelfth grade English at The Academy at Charlemont. She’s been teaching for nineteen years. In the past, she has largely taught in underserved districts teaching literacy and fundamentals. She taught in Springfield before joining the faculty of The Academy in 2020. Teaching at The Academy opened up an opportunity to teach middle school and dedicate more time to her passion, writing. Currently, she has published four books and is working on a fifth. Lauren has enjoyed the freedom that The Academy has offered to share her hobby of creative writing with her students. She has one pet, a dog named Fenrir.

Rafael Kelman teaches art to seventh grade through ninth grade as well as an art studio block available to all grades. He has been teaching for around eight years. Before joining The

Academy he worked at a boarding school in eastern Massachusetts for five years, and before that at various workshops and afterschool programs. In August 2021 he moved to Western Mass, seeking a more rural and queer-positive community. He joined The Academy faculty and is enjoying the community of the school and the opportunity it grants for all students to try art. He enjoys being the sole art teacher. This allows him to consider the art curriculum as a whole and the catch the cat and take it to a shelter. The trap caught a skunk and an opossum. But still no Purrington. Students were told not to scare the cat, because if connection between middle and high school art, and foster a greater joy for art in the students. In his studio block, centered around sculptures, the class attempted to transform the stumps in front of the school into twin statues of aardvarks as well as explore mold making and plaster casting. Outside of teaching, he has a child, a partner, and a dog. He is interested in the applications of herbs and foods as medicine, as well as politics, and calling into radio talk shows across the political spectrum.

Purrington bit a human it would have to be euthanized. The trapping mission stopped due to the fact Purrington did not act aggressively and looked healthy. It was assumed that the cat had an owner and home somewhere nearby. Purrington even made an appearance at graduation being its usual adorable, and beloved by all, self.

The nature at The Academy has proved its beauty time and time again. If you ask any student about a nature experience at the school, rest assured that they will almost always have a cool creature sighting and a story at the ready.