Lakso named Teacher of the Year at Bob Jones
Robin Lakso has been named Teacher of the Year at Bob Jones High School. (CONTRIBUTED)
MADISON – Robin Lakso, Teacher of the Year at Bob Jones High School, enjoys former students returning and sharing experiences with current students.
“Students love to hear where their lives might lead them,” Lakso said.
“It’s a humbling feeling to think someone believes I’m good enough for this honor amongst such an extraordinary group of teachers and staff,” Lakso said. “It is always a good day to be a Bob Jones Patriot.”
Lakso teaches art I, III, IV and advanced; next year, she’ll teach a new class, advanced-placement Art Studio. Lakso sponsors homecoming and National Art Honor Society.
Lakso is proud of her students’ dedication. Advanced students entered multiple competitions, with their portfolios for Scholastic Arts & Writing Awards earning two Gold Keys, Silver Keys and Honorable Mentions.
Her students won two of the state’s five Visual Arts Achievement Portfolio awards.
With the “da Vinci project,” Lakso saw students exercise the brain’s left/right sides with “Lefty Leo” and contact politicians for “War, What Is it Good for?” For “Come to the Table and Eat,” students created cookbooks, held food drives and challenged teachers to cook-offs.
Lakso feels most rewarded by watching students “go off and become interesting and creative adults. I also love ‘ah-ha moments’ when … a student ‘gets it.’ It never grows old.” Like any teacher, she is challenged to reach each student who “learns in their own way.”
Mentor Laurie McKelvie taught Lakso about being an art teacher. “No one could bring out the artist in a student like Laurie.”
Lakso’s daughter, teacher, friend Liz Vaughn inspires her. “Jenny Norton, my co-teacher, allows me to lean on her and keeps me grounded,” Lakso said.
Lakso earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree at Western Maryland (McDaniel) College. She also holds 32 extra credits from Athens State University. She also has taught at Ft. Meade and Clarksville, Md.
She and husband Scott have two children: Erik and Vic Lakso and daughters Emma and Sophie, and Liz and Alex Vaughn and son Magnus.
