Becky Burgoyne, Gibbons Middle School
Becky Connor Burgoyne has taught visual art in the Westborough Public Schools since 2003. She currently teaches at Gibbons Middle School, where she focuses on providing a well-rounded visual art experience for 7th and 8th grade students. Class offerings include drawing, painting, printmaking, sewing, ceramics and other sculpture forms. After school clubs offer additional time for students to pursue their artistic interests. Mrs. Burgoyne has completed coursework from Worcester State University, Fitchburg State University, Worcester Center for Crafts and Worcester Art Museum; concentrating in drawing, ceramics, and non-Western art history. She earned both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Education from Framingham State University. Through her work at Framingham State, she has had the opportunity to mentor a number of post-baccalaureate student teaching candidates and Master of Education students. These experiences have provided Mrs. Burgoyne with a renewed outlook on her teaching as well as her own personal philosophy as a working artist and teacher. With a focus on drawing and three-dimensional sculpture, Mrs. Burgoyne's artwork has been exhibited in a number of local venues. She lives in Northbridge with her husband, Andy, and their twins, Connor and Avery.
Becky Connor Burgoyne has taught visual art in the Westborough Public Schools since 2003. She currently teaches at Gibbons Middle School, where she focuses on providing a well-rounded visual art experience for 7th and 8th grade students. Class offerings include drawing, painting, printmaking, sewing, ceramics and other sculpture forms. After school clubs offer additional time for students to pursue their artistic interests. Mrs. Burgoyne has completed coursework from Worcester State University, Fitchburg State University, Worcester Center for Crafts and Worcester Art Museum; concentrating in drawing, ceramics, and non-Western art history. She earned both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Education from Framingham State University. Through her work at Framingham State, she has had the opportunity to mentor a number of post-baccalaureate student teaching candidates and Master of Education students. These experiences have provided Mrs. Burgoyne with a renewed outlook on her teaching as well as her own personal philosophy as a working artist and teacher. With a focus on drawing and three-dimensional sculpture, Mrs. Burgoyne's artwork has been exhibited in a number of local venues. She lives in Northbridge with her husband, Andy, and their twins, Connor and Avery.
Linda Crawford, Retired.
Mill Pond Elementary School
Linda Crawford taught in Westborough for 16 years. She earned her undergraduate degree from Mount Union College in Alliance Ohio. She earned her Masters in Education from Cambridge College in Boston in 2004. Her work has been shown here in Westborough at the Art Emporium on several occasions and most recently in October of 2014. She has taken classes from the Worcester Art Museum adult classes in watercolor, life drawing and Chinese brush painting. Watercolor is her medium of choice with a strong drawing component. She continues to develop her portraiture skills by daily practice and is on volume 35 of a sketch book collection.
Mill Pond Elementary School
Linda Crawford taught in Westborough for 16 years. She earned her undergraduate degree from Mount Union College in Alliance Ohio. She earned her Masters in Education from Cambridge College in Boston in 2004. Her work has been shown here in Westborough at the Art Emporium on several occasions and most recently in October of 2014. She has taken classes from the Worcester Art Museum adult classes in watercolor, life drawing and Chinese brush painting. Watercolor is her medium of choice with a strong drawing component. She continues to develop her portraiture skills by daily practice and is on volume 35 of a sketch book collection.
Jackie O'Rourke, Armstrong Elementary School and Mill Pond Elementary School
Jackie (Susanne) O’Rourke has been teaching as a visual arts teacher in Westborough Public Schools since 2011. She teaches at Armstrong Elementary School and Mill Pond Elementary School grades kindergarten through sixth grade. She focuses on blending an extensive array of art techniques which include drawing, painting, printmaking, clay and 3d designs, while incorporating classroom studies whenever possible.
Jackie graduated from Framingham State University in 1995 with a bachelor’s of fine arts and a minor in art history. She decided to wait to pursue her career to remain at home while her children were young. She completed her Masters of Education with a concentration
of fine arts at Framingham State University in 2017.
Jackie (Susanne) O’Rourke has been teaching as a visual arts teacher in Westborough Public Schools since 2011. She teaches at Armstrong Elementary School and Mill Pond Elementary School grades kindergarten through sixth grade. She focuses on blending an extensive array of art techniques which include drawing, painting, printmaking, clay and 3d designs, while incorporating classroom studies whenever possible.
Jackie graduated from Framingham State University in 1995 with a bachelor’s of fine arts and a minor in art history. She decided to wait to pursue her career to remain at home while her children were young. She completed her Masters of Education with a concentration
of fine arts at Framingham State University in 2017.
Alana Conlin, Hastings Elementary School, Mill Pond School, Westborough Early Childhood Center
Originally from San Francisco, California, Alana Conlin is an alum of the Massachusetts College of Art and Design (BFA) and Lesley University (M.Ed) Now teaching PreK-6 at Hastings, Mill Pond and WECC, she enjoys painting and creating clay sculptures with her young students. Alana has taught art to kindergarten through eighth grade students in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and feels very privileged to be a part of the Westborough education system. She is a member of the elementary school Technology Committee and the Hastings Elementary Diversity Committee. Alana continues to develop her own art in order to improve her teaching. Her personal art focus is mixed media paper and illustration. She designed the Hastings Elementary School logo of the Hastings Hawk and designed the 10th Anniversary logo for the Providence Roller Derby. She lives in Rhode Island with her husband, daughter and dog.
Originally from San Francisco, California, Alana Conlin is an alum of the Massachusetts College of Art and Design (BFA) and Lesley University (M.Ed) Now teaching PreK-6 at Hastings, Mill Pond and WECC, she enjoys painting and creating clay sculptures with her young students. Alana has taught art to kindergarten through eighth grade students in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and feels very privileged to be a part of the Westborough education system. She is a member of the elementary school Technology Committee and the Hastings Elementary Diversity Committee. Alana continues to develop her own art in order to improve her teaching. Her personal art focus is mixed media paper and illustration. She designed the Hastings Elementary School logo of the Hastings Hawk and designed the 10th Anniversary logo for the Providence Roller Derby. She lives in Rhode Island with her husband, daughter and dog.
Carolyn McGrath, Westborough High School
Carolyn McGrath is proud to be teaching Visual Arts at Westborough High School, especially since she attended Westborough Schools herself from grades K through 12. Prior to joining the Fine Arts Department in Westborough, Ms. McGrath taught Middle School Graphic Art for several years in Holden, MA. Ms. McGrath graduated summa cum laude from Framingham State University (FSU) in 2007 with a B.A. in Studio Art (concentration in Graphic Design). At FSU, she was a recipient of the Christa Corrigan McAuliffe Scholarship for exemplary academic credentials combined with evidence of noteworthy achievement in non-academic areas. In 2016, she earned her Master's Degree of Education, Art at FSU. Ms. McGrath thoroughly enjoys working with children, and is looking forward to a long and rewarding career teaching the young, aspiring artists at Westborough High School.
Carolyn McGrath is proud to be teaching Visual Arts at Westborough High School, especially since she attended Westborough Schools herself from grades K through 12. Prior to joining the Fine Arts Department in Westborough, Ms. McGrath taught Middle School Graphic Art for several years in Holden, MA. Ms. McGrath graduated summa cum laude from Framingham State University (FSU) in 2007 with a B.A. in Studio Art (concentration in Graphic Design). At FSU, she was a recipient of the Christa Corrigan McAuliffe Scholarship for exemplary academic credentials combined with evidence of noteworthy achievement in non-academic areas. In 2016, she earned her Master's Degree of Education, Art at FSU. Ms. McGrath thoroughly enjoys working with children, and is looking forward to a long and rewarding career teaching the young, aspiring artists at Westborough High School.
Emma Ballachino, Westborough High School
Emma is the 3D Art Teacher at Westborough High School. At WHS, she teaches 3D Foundations, Sculpture, Pottery I, II, III, and AP, and Modernism. Emma graduated from Massachusetts College of Art and Design in 2016 with a BFA in Art Education. She earned her Masters of Education in Art from Framingham State University in 2020.
In her personal art practice, Emma works primarily with ceramics. Her work explores the cultural and familial significance of food and eating and the importance of the utilitarian ceramic objects that we encounter in our everyday lives. Moving forward, she hopes to incorporate more mold making and slip casting into her studio time. She also frequently experiments with different materials and is inspired by her students' material explorations.
Emma is the 3D Art Teacher at Westborough High School. At WHS, she teaches 3D Foundations, Sculpture, Pottery I, II, III, and AP, and Modernism. Emma graduated from Massachusetts College of Art and Design in 2016 with a BFA in Art Education. She earned her Masters of Education in Art from Framingham State University in 2020.
In her personal art practice, Emma works primarily with ceramics. Her work explores the cultural and familial significance of food and eating and the importance of the utilitarian ceramic objects that we encounter in our everyday lives. Moving forward, she hopes to incorporate more mold making and slip casting into her studio time. She also frequently experiments with different materials and is inspired by her students' material explorations.
Ellie Mannherz, Fales Elementary School
Ellie has been teaching art at Fales Elementary School for two years. Born in Danbury, CT, she has lived in Boxborough since moving to Massachusetts in 1993. Ms. Mannherz graduated from Acton-Boxborough Regional High School in 2010, and received her degree in Art Education from Saint Michael’s College in Vermont in 2014. Since graduating from college, she has held several long-term substitute art teacher positions, including here in Westborough in 2015 at Fales and Hastings Elementary Schools. In her spare time, she enjoys creating her own art, DIY projects, traveling, cooking, and relaxing on the beach. While she enjoys all types of art, Ms. Mannherz’s favorite media is pottery, especially wheel throwing. During the summer, she teaches ceramics at Summer Fenn Day Camp in Concord.
Ellie has been teaching art at Fales Elementary School for two years. Born in Danbury, CT, she has lived in Boxborough since moving to Massachusetts in 1993. Ms. Mannherz graduated from Acton-Boxborough Regional High School in 2010, and received her degree in Art Education from Saint Michael’s College in Vermont in 2014. Since graduating from college, she has held several long-term substitute art teacher positions, including here in Westborough in 2015 at Fales and Hastings Elementary Schools. In her spare time, she enjoys creating her own art, DIY projects, traveling, cooking, and relaxing on the beach. While she enjoys all types of art, Ms. Mannherz’s favorite media is pottery, especially wheel throwing. During the summer, she teaches ceramics at Summer Fenn Day Camp in Concord.
Peter Glenn, Westborough High School
Peter has really been enjoying the past 3 years teaching 2D Arts at WHS. Peter is currently teaching 2D Foundations, Drawing 1, Drawing 2, Mixed Media Painting and AP Studio Arts. Peter graduated from Syracuse University's school of Visual and Performing Arts with a bachelors degree in Graphic design and a concentration in Fine Arts. Peter is currently pursuing higher education at Framingham State University. In his private practice, Peter still works as a freelance illustrator and designer, creating product and package design for numerous local brands, musicians and organizations. Peter works primarily in pen and ink, watercolor and mixed media painting. When he's not drawing or teaching, Peter loves to be outside- fishing, skiing, and hiking.
Peter has really been enjoying the past 3 years teaching 2D Arts at WHS. Peter is currently teaching 2D Foundations, Drawing 1, Drawing 2, Mixed Media Painting and AP Studio Arts. Peter graduated from Syracuse University's school of Visual and Performing Arts with a bachelors degree in Graphic design and a concentration in Fine Arts. Peter is currently pursuing higher education at Framingham State University. In his private practice, Peter still works as a freelance illustrator and designer, creating product and package design for numerous local brands, musicians and organizations. Peter works primarily in pen and ink, watercolor and mixed media painting. When he's not drawing or teaching, Peter loves to be outside- fishing, skiing, and hiking.
Dawn Kahle Shoneman, Mill Pond School
Dawn Kahle Shoneman is very excited to be joining the Westborough School District and will be teaching visual arts at Mill Pond School. Her overarching goal is for students to see that art connects us to ourselves, to each other, to past generations, and to people around the world. In her own art, Dawn enjoys exploring different materials to make art and up-cycling, creating something new out of something old. Dawn earned her Masters in Art Education at Tufts University in collaboration with the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, in 2017. She also has a Bachelor of Architecture from Pennsylvania State University. Prior to becoming an educator, Dawn enjoyed a career as an architect for over 18 years. She lives in Franklin with her husband, two kids, Abby and Sam, and her dog, Theo.
Dawn Kahle Shoneman is very excited to be joining the Westborough School District and will be teaching visual arts at Mill Pond School. Her overarching goal is for students to see that art connects us to ourselves, to each other, to past generations, and to people around the world. In her own art, Dawn enjoys exploring different materials to make art and up-cycling, creating something new out of something old. Dawn earned her Masters in Art Education at Tufts University in collaboration with the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, in 2017. She also has a Bachelor of Architecture from Pennsylvania State University. Prior to becoming an educator, Dawn enjoyed a career as an architect for over 18 years. She lives in Franklin with her husband, two kids, Abby and Sam, and her dog, Theo.
Amy Crossin, Mill Pond School
Amy is honored to have been a small part of the Westborough's Fine Arts community this year. She also teaches art at the Fitzgerald Community School in Northborough and is the founder of The Parading Palette which provides art enrichment activities and programming focused on technique, appreciation, and the enjoyment of creating. Over the years, she has been fortunate to engage with children of all ages in a variety of settings, including homeschools, art studios, after-school art programs, public school enrichment activities, summer camps, and private schools. She received her B.F.A. from Anna Maria College where she majored in Fine Arts and minored in Education and Psychology and then received a Master's in Expressive Therapies from Lesley University. One of Amy's favorite things to do is go camping with her husband and two daughters and feed them delicious dutch oven meals she creates over a charcoal fire!
Amy is honored to have been a small part of the Westborough's Fine Arts community this year. She also teaches art at the Fitzgerald Community School in Northborough and is the founder of The Parading Palette which provides art enrichment activities and programming focused on technique, appreciation, and the enjoyment of creating. Over the years, she has been fortunate to engage with children of all ages in a variety of settings, including homeschools, art studios, after-school art programs, public school enrichment activities, summer camps, and private schools. She received her B.F.A. from Anna Maria College where she majored in Fine Arts and minored in Education and Psychology and then received a Master's in Expressive Therapies from Lesley University. One of Amy's favorite things to do is go camping with her husband and two daughters and feed them delicious dutch oven meals she creates over a charcoal fire!