Ms. Cappucci has transformed the AP Studio Art program at Columbia High School in Maplewood, NJ! She executed a laser focused recruiting effort two years ago that doubled the number of students enrolled in AP Studio Art classes. She very successfully collaborated with community arts leaders to put together the first month long showcase of AP student work at South Orange Performing Arts Center. Born in NJ, Alexandra attended Salve Regina University where she was awarded Best of Student Art in 2010. She received her BA from Fordham University where she received the Commitment to Social Justice Award for her work with Strive for College. Alexandra continued her studies at Montclair State University where she received a Master’s in Teaching in Art Education and Teaching Students with Disabilities. At this time, she received the College of Education and Human Services Student Research Award for her work using 3-D printers to create adaptive materials for the art classroom.

Quote from Ms. Cappucci: I know that the key to all this success has been the community that has supported me. The professors I had in college that trained me, the amazing teachers who have mentored me throughout my career, and the dedication parents and guardians have for the success of their students, and the students themselves. The communities I have been blessed to work with are the key to my success, and the ultimate goal of my career is to provide the same supportive community to my students. This is my calling, and I am looking forward to continuing my teaching career.

Alexandra began her teaching career in Indiana at Shortridge High School, an innovative, all public, International Baccalaureate school providing an IB education in a high needs district. During this time, she co-founded the action group Indiana Teachers Organizing for Action (INTOA). At first, INTOA primarily focused on building relationships between teachers, education officials, and community members to lobby local representatives for increased PPE in

schools, expanded internet access for hybrid learning, and vaccine eligibility for teachers. Upon her return to NJ, Alexandra became the AP Art teacher at Columbia High School, where she has grown the AP Program 146%, curated gallery exhibits with community arts leaders to showcase 116 works from the AP Arts courses at South Orange Performing Arts Center, procured grant funding for students to participate in the Scholastic Arts and Writing Competition (through which students received the prestigious American Visions Nomination, 2 gold keys, 1 silver key, and 2 honorable mentions). She is the proud teacher of a student with a perfect AP score. All her hard work, coupled with a very caring demeanor, Alexandra has created a prolific and exuberant inspiring young artist community in the AP Studio classes at Columbia HS. A sort of kaleidoscope mix of academia Bohemia where students are excited to create their highest level of works, share them, critique and improve on them and exhibit them for the public eye to enjoy!