My name is Teacher Ray, and I am the Visual Arts Teacher at Frost Lake Elementary! This is my 6th year as an art teacher and 5th year teaching in St. Paul Public Schools. I have my B.A. in Studio Arts and B.A. in Psychology from Seattle University, as well as a M.A. in Arts in Education from University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Before teaching at Frost Lake, I was the Media Arts teacher at Battle Creek Middle School. I came to Frost Lake in 2022 and am grateful to be a part of our vibrant school community. 

My arts background is in fine arts and theater scenic arts, and I have experience working with ceramics, painting, printmaking, murals, and illustration. As an art teacher, my role is to support students in exploring the visual arts as they develop the skills and knowledge to be communicators and creators. In elementary art, we build the foundations for later arts education, preparing students to be ready to observe, creatively communicate, and create wherever their educational journey takes them. We look to find arts connections and integration throughout all subjects. It's a joy to witness students as they find those connections as learners where their interests, skills, knowledge, and curiosity can meet to keep them engaged and in full ownership of their learning. 

Outside of school, I love hiking, cooking, farming, and reading books from our St. Paul Libraries! My partner and I love to take roadtrips to explore new places, go camping, and always, to try new foods along the way. I am committed to being a life-long learner, and look forward to teaching and learning with our Frost Lake families and students! If you have any questions about Visual Arts at Frost Lake, feel free to reach out using the contact info listed on this page!