I Grew up in Durham, NC and Graduated from Durham School of the Arts. I Went to East Carolina

Mr. Ian S Ray

I grew up in Durham, NC and graduated from Durham School of the Arts. I went to East Carolina University for Illustration/Graphic Design. I left Greenville and moved to Wilmington NC, where I worked as a carpenter and helped build Beach front homes. I moved to the Caribbean to the Island of Anguilla where I worked as an engineer assistant. I moved back to NC and attended UNC of Pembroke to obtain my teaching certificate and a BA in Arts Education. During the summer I worked in Alaska, running sled dogs on a Godwin Glacier, to help pay for my education. At UNC of Pembroke I met my fiancée Heather Murray and we graduated together with our Teaching Degrees and decided to move to the city of Charlotte.

I enjoy building and riding bicycles, creating origami, and making art. I specialize in graphic based images, with a concentration in printmaking techniques. My fiancée and I live in the Midwood Plaza area and enjoy hanging out with our two dogs and riding our bikes around the city.

My family is spread throughout the world; I have a brother in Columbia, South America, a brother in Hawaii, a sister in London, and my Father lives in Alaska. Like my family I love to travel and experience new places and customs. This love of Global differences really helps me in my profession and helps me teach the students about different cultures and Art movements.

This is my fifth year here at Albemarle Road Middle, and as an educator I have created my own curriculum within our school that challenges the students and pushes them to go past what they know and experiment in different creative theories.

I have assisted on outings in which we took students to the Urban Ministries Center to help with planting a garden. Along with coordinating volunteers in our school, I have also helped the students advocate for their rights through a summit that included School and City Board members. I have also have obtained Grants through the local museums and Arts and Science Council. This has allowed our students to work with local artists and visit museums.