Faculty Spotlight: Marcella Rochon, Art Teacher

For Mrs. Marcella Rochon, Chesterton Academy’s art teacher, “Classical education integrates education. It explains the effects of history on the thinking of the age and how that in turn affects civilization and culture. Learning at an academy such as Chesterton allows students the opportunity to share their ideas with those who are like-minded.”

This philosophy of integrated education contrasts sharply with the philosophy behind Mrs. Rochon’s own education as a public school student. In the public school system, academic subjects are usually each separated into their own category. Because of this compartmentalized way of teaching, public school graduates often think in compartments and see life in little compartments rather than as a whole.

“We were taught the 'how to' of a subject but often didn’t understand the 'why' of it. I may have continued thinking in this disjointed way had I not had a terrific art history teacher at Wayne State University. What made Professor Horst Uhr such a wonderful teacher was that he not only taught the usual information about pieces of art, but he also presented the history of the times: the political situation, specific events, inventions and discoveries - whatever was impacting the world and how that in turn was affecting the theological, moral and philosophical ideologies that were common to the place and era in which the artwork was being created. Listening to Professor Uhr caused a light to turn on within me. Suddenly, history, science, literature, art – everything I had learned and was learning – came tumbling out of the little file cabinets in my mind and began intermingling. Academics were integrated. Some of my 'why' questions were being answered.”

After earning a degree in Graphics and Commercial Art with an emphasis on Advertising Design from Wayne State, Mrs. Rochon worked as a professional artist and also taught art at private Christian schools, for adult education and recreation programs. Once she married and started homeschooling her children, she began teaching art at various homeschool groups. As a homeschooling teacher, Mrs. Rochon used a classical approach to teach her children: “I wanted my children to see life differently than I had as a young person.” Twenty plus years later, the youngest Rochon children were graduating from homeschool and Mrs. Rochon was seeking God’s direction for her life.

Then, several years ago, Mrs. Rochon picked up a brochure at church and learned about Chesterton Academy. Shortly after reading the brochure, the coordinator of Assumption Grotto Church's homeschool program sent out an email saying that a Chesterton Academy was forming in the Detroit area and was looking for teachers as well as students. Thinking God might want her to continue teaching art, she contacted Chesterton Academy and found a perfect fit for her talents there.

As the art teacher at Chesterton Academy, Mrs. Rochon hopes to help her students see that knowledge is integrated and that a culture’s artistic expression does not arise in a vacuum. She also hopes to instill in students a love for beauty and a desire to seek Truth, Goodness, and Beauty in their art and in their lives.

“I’m always amazed by the intelligence, inquisitiveness and imagination of young people who are excited about learning. They are not bored; they are not jaded. Life still holds wonder for them.”

We are delighted to welcome Mrs. Rochon into the Chesterton family!