Bulldog News
Rex Osae still enjoys the art of teaching
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
In his two decades at Hillside School, Rex Osae has witnessed many changes throughout the Marlborough campus. But in the midst of such transformations, one aspect of his career remains the same.
“I still enjoy helping young adolescent boys find their talent so they can express themselves artistically,” explains Rex. “That is a big reason why I am still here.”
Rex has taken on many roles at Hillside. However, he is most familiar to both alumni and current students in his capacity as an art teacher and athletics coach. It seems that, along with the changing color of the leaves, Rex’s game day coaching of the varsity soccer team is a rite of autumn at Hillside.
Rex’s other role at Hillside is readily on display within his art studio in the Academic & Health Center’s Stevens Wing. Here, he proudly exhibits the artistic creations of his students over the years. Everything from the well-known Pitsco car models to portraits and depictions of imaginary worlds grace his walls. It is also in this studio that he graciously recounts his long-time association with Hillside.
“The more I do teaching, the more satisfaction I get from knowing that I’ve contributed to society in some way,” Rex elaborates about what motivates him in the classroom. “It’s the ability to make a difference in a child’s life that keeps me going.”
Looking back on the history he has shared with Hillside, he is amazed by the changes that have taken place. “This is a very different place than it was twenty years ago,” he states. “We’ve grown in nearly every way – admissions, infrastructure and programs -- everything.”
Even the Hillside School Farm, while often recognized as the school’s strongest connection to its storied past, has seen changes. “It used to be that the farm was a source of subsistence for the school – the food that the students ate came directly from the farm,” he said. “Now, the farm serves as an important educational tool to make students aware of environmental issues.”
A native of Ghana, Rex first came to the United States in 1981. “I got off the plane at JFK International Airport and tried to ask someone – anyone – for directions,” he recalls. “No one seemed to care until I was able to speak with a police officer. My dad was a police officer so that was the connection I needed.”
Rex was inspired to come to America by friends who had traveled to the United States. “They talked about the opportunities available here so I decided to make a change in my life and come to this country,” he said.
One such opportunity was an art teaching position available at Hillside School. The rest, as they say, is history.
Over the years, Rex has helped countless students discover their inner artistic muse. These boys have come to realize the joy of creating and expressing themselves through drawing, painting, sculpture and other mediums under Rex’s careful guidance.
Perhaps no stronger evidence exists of Rex’s impact upon these students than the strong contacts he has made with numerous alumni. “Former students will call and tell me that they still have their Pitsco cars displayed prominently on shelves in their dens,” says Rex. “Or that they still use the spice racks or CD shelves that they produced with me.”
Such gratitude, he says, makes him “very, very happy.”
He often encourages these alumni to “come back and visit,” says Rex. “I always tell them that they will be amazed at the progress Hillside has made since they graduated.”
As to the future, Rex is looking forward to many more years of utilizing his teaching talents at Hillside. “I really enjoy what I am doing,” he says “And as long as I can continue to positively shape young minds, I will continue doing it.”
Rex Osae helps out student Donato Giovanetti '12 during a lunch program.
