Roxy McKnight, a founding teacher of Animas High School, left our school earlier this year. Known for her loud and outgoing personality, Roxy taught digital art to new Ospreys and advanced digital art and photography to upper-level students.
Roxy started with Animas as a young 22-year-old, fresh out of college and setting up our school at the strip mall. She was 23 when the doors opened in the fall. She explains the Animas founders started working in July 2009, spending hours and even days deciding which habits would make Animas what it is today. She grew the digital arts curriculum from the ground up and helped students build their Photoshop and website-making skills throughout the year. The majority of her freshpeople loved the Teacher Creature project, now an AHS tradition, where they got to mess with their teachers by putting their faces on different creatures and even celebrities.
The students often refer to Roxy as the teacher they felt comfortable going to if they needed help or support. Sophomore Nico Peterson refers to Roxy by explaining, “She was constantly supportive of the person, not the problem. Whatever you needed, she would get done, regardless of what it took.”
Roxy was always the kind of teacher who wanted to help students with both school and any other life problems they faced. She says in an interview, “I wouldn't be who I am today without Animas. Being an Osprey changed my life. The connections I made and the humans I’ve gotten to love are remarkable. I couldn’t be luckier to have a heart this full of love for my students and feather rustling co-educators. Never forget that project-based life can become a passion project-based mentality. Go slow to go fast. Be kind to each other forever and always, never stop taking it in.”
Senior Maya Olivier remarks, “Roxy was my support system for all three years that I experienced at Animas High School. I came in as a fresh sophomore transfer that had many struggles. I remember every problem I had, whether mental or in school. She was always the first one to tell when something was up. Every time whether I wanted to or not, she would help me open up and feel better. I will miss her when I graduate and for the rest of my life, and I hope to stay in contact with her.”
Roxy will be greatly missed at Animas High School, but she will move on in life and experience new and exciting things in the graphic design and photography world. As she would say, she will always take in new things all around her, and she would tell the students of Animas High School to continue to TAKE IT IN KIDS!!
