While many Townsend Harris students know Ms. Lipinski for their role as an English teacher, fewer are aware of Ms. Lipinski’s extensive experience in exploring the connections between art and literature, especially in museum settings. As a former museum gallery ambassador and the current advisor of The Phoenix, THHS’ literary magazine, Ms. Lipinski has taken on many education-centered roles in their career, many of which are aimed at helping others to understand creative works and express themselves through constructing their own.
From childhood, Ms. Lipinski knew that they were interested in pursuing English and art. They attended the University of Pittsburgh, where they studied English literature and the history of art and architecture, while minoring in museum studies. While attending college, Ms. Lipinski worked as a gallery ambassador in the Carnegie Museum of Art, which is known for its impressive collections, including one of the United States’ largest displays of plaster architectural casts.
“I always knew that I loved English and art. I loved reading and writing, and I loved making art and going to museums and seeing art. And so that’s what I studied when I went to college” – Ms. Lipinski
In this role, Ms. Lipinski first studied artists whose works were featured at the museum before learning about their specific creations. They then guided visitors through galleries, helped them explore interactive exhibits, and shared knowledge about artists and works. Ms. Lipinski’s experience in museums was linked to their interest in education, and they later earned a master’s degree in secondary education at Columbia University Teacher’s College.
When Ms. Lipinski came to THHS, they were interested in providing a space where students had the opportunity to write and present their writing in group settings — an experience Ms. Lipinski had in a high school writing club. This led to them becoming the advisor of The Phoenix: “I’m happy to be involved in whatever way with providing our students with an opportunity to share their creative talents with their friends and with the school community,” said Ms. Lipinski.
“I was involved in a writing club in high school, and it meant a lot to me to have a space where I could work with my friends and we could share our writing with each other. And we did open mics and events like that, and so it was a really meaningful experience to me” – Ms. Lipinski
The Phoenix, an award-winning literary and art magazine run by Townsend Harris students, combines photography, art, and writing. It is known for its end-of-year final publication, which contains pieces from each of these categories in a published, printed book. Ms. Lipinski feels that their background in literature and art contributes to how meaningful it is for them to advise The Phoenix, which represents student voice in a variety of mediums.
Ms. Lipinski spoke on the power of publication, specifically in relation to The Phoenix. They said that students seeing their creative pieces published is a powerful experience. They also addressed the impact of publishing student work on families, who are often touched by seeing their child’s work in a printed book and receiving the opportunity to hold on to a copy of the piece.
Sophomore Imogen Kujo: “We got to read a really wide variety of literature…which exposed [me] to new ways of reading and especially interpreting texts in different ways.”
Junior Amy Huynh: “Their class made me realize graphic novels. We read a book called American Born Chinese which is a book I probably would have never read if I didn’t take the class…I learned a lot about my identity and culture.”
Senior Ebube Ajulu: “I feel like they made everyone feel confident in their work, and publishing your work is a way of sharing that with others.”
“I think it’s really special to know that something you created will be read and appreciated by others. I think it’s really important for students to see their work celebrated on a larger scale” – Ms. Lipinski
Though Ms. Lipinski isn’t interested in publishing their own work in the future, they did express the happiness they received from helping students to publish their individual works through The Phoenix. They also addressed the meaningfulness of the final publication in their Phoenix students’ high school experiences: “Holding the book in their hands is something that is hard to replicate… It’s really important and really meaningful to them.”
“I think I’m really happy just mentoring young people and supporting them in their publishing goals” – Ms. Lipinski
Outside of work and extracurriculars, Ms. Lipinski continues their love for writing through creatively writing at home, often to the same Phoenix prompts their students are asked to answer. Ms. Lipinski said that it is just as fun and enjoyable for adults to express themselves through writing as students, as they don’t often get the same opportunities to explore what fascinates them.
“It’s hard for adults to find those moments to explore their interests. So it’s fun to be involved in a club where I’m able to create alongside the kids, and it’s fun to see how all of us can take the same prompt so differently” – Ms. Lipinski
