By Maddie Jenkins
Staff Writer

Kelly Fitzsimmons, a new teacher at Westford Academy, will be teaching Fine Arts. She grew up in Westford and went to high school here with the teachers that are now her mentors. She loves children, her past jobs were all about teaching, and is passionate about art.

Q: Have you ever been a teacher before?

A: Yes, last year I taught elementary art in Ayer Shirley School district for kindergarten through fifth grade students.

Q: What made you decide to be a teacher?

A: I’ve always enjoyed working with kids, and I’ve always loved art so it was very easy for me, I’m passionate about both teaching and art.

Q: What made you come to Westford Academy?

A: This is a full time position, and my last one was a point seven, seventy percent of a position. And I am really excited to be back at the high school that I went to, and to be teaching high school.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about Westford Academy so far?

A: My favorite thing is probably working at a high school level and seeing the artwork that high schoolers create; that’s really exciting for me. The only other time I’ve taught high school was during my student teaching in Syracuse. I’m very impressed with how polite the students have been, they set the tone for a great class environment and I’m just very impressed with the students, work and manners. It also fun to work with Mr. Hardy who was my art teacher in high school and is now my mentor.

Q: Where did you grow up?

A: I grew up in Westford.

Q: What college did you go to?

A: Syracuse University.

Q: What are some past jobs or careers that you have had?

A: When I was sixteen I worked at Kimball’s and then other than that, I’ve always worked with kids through summer camps, and I’ve been a substitute teacher and a teaching assistant. I’ve worked at after school programs, so I’ve pretty much always worked with kids except for working at Kimball’s Farm.

Q: What are some unique qualities about yourself?

A: Well, I’ll do the cliché, I’m creative. I don’t even think these are unique qualities about myself but I think I’d like to think that I’m a nice person, approachable, and well-rounded.

Q: What personal qualities of a teacher do you think you have?

A: All of the same things I just said, particularly being creative, [which] I think is important when you’re a teacher. And I’m always prepared; I’m like OCD with being prepared, organized, super organized. And I would say [being] approachable is pretty important too.