With last spring’s departure of Mr. Haughn, the Innovation and Arts department has welcomed a new face this semester with the arrival of Mr. Maxwell Mittman, a ceramics and sculpture teacher. With experience teaching at both the high school and collegiate levels, Mr. Mittman brings a creative perspective to the classroom.
Before joining Benjamin, Mittman taught ceramics, sculpture, and 3D design at several institutions in South Florida, including the New World School of the Arts in Miami, Florida Atlantic University, and the Armory Art Center in West Palm Beach.
“I’ve worked with students in a lot of different settings,” Mr. Mittman shared. “Teaching in both high school and college environments helped me understand how students learn differently and how to build a program that balances creativity with structure.”
His arrival has been met with enthusiasm from department leadership.
“I am particularly excited about the fresh perspective Mr. Mittman brings to the department,” Mrs. Perretta, the Innovation and Arts department chair, explained. “He is a practicing artist, which was especially exciting for our department. Faculty were enthusiastic to learn about his involvement in art shows throughout the local community, as it reflects a genuine commitment to his craft beyond the classroom.”
“I can see he loves his work. He loves to teach, to make art, and most importantly, help students to be the best artists they can be,” Head of School Mr. Carr noted.
Mr. Mittman’s interest in ceramics began with the physical nature of the material itself.
“Clay is very honest,” Mr. Mittman stated. “It responds immediately to touch and pressure, and you can’t really hide mistakes. Your decisions show, and that’s something I’ve always been drawn to.”
Mr. Mittman saw that sculpture appealed to him because it exists in real space, and that mindset continues to influence his personal artistic style.
“My work usually sits somewhere between the familiar and the uncomfortable,” Mr. Mittman stated. “I’m interested in objects that suggest history or memory and show signs of use rather than being perfectly polished.”
Mr. Mittman realized he wanted to pursue art seriously when he began to see it as more than just creating objects.
“Art became a way of thinking for me,” Mr. Mittman laughed. “It allowed me to explore ideas and questions that didn’t have simple answers, and once I understood that, I committed to it fully.”
That same philosophy eventually led him to teaching, where Mr. Mittman views teaching as an extension of his work as an artist.
“I became a teacher because I care a lot about process and growth,” Mr. Mittman confidently said. “Teaching gives me the opportunity to share tools and ways of thinking that help students realize their potential.”
Some of the pieces Mr. Mittman is most proud of are large sculptures that required extensive revision and experimentation.
“Those projects taught me patience and trust in the process,” Mr. Mittman remarked. “Often the work I’m proudest of isn’t about the final result, but about what it took to get there.”
In the classroom, Mr. Mittman hopes students gain more than just technical skills.
“I want students to learn how to take risks and fail productively,” Mittman brought up. “Being able to critique your own work with care and clarity is a skill that applies far beyond art.”
Fellow art teacher Mrs. Kroul believes his role as a working artist strengthens the department as a whole.
“Mr. Mittman is both an art teacher and a working artist who makes and exhibits his artwork, and as such is a valuable addition to the art department,” Kroul said. “Having art teachers who are also practicing artists elevates the art department by exposing students to real artists who are involved in the art world and understanding contemporary art practices goes beyond the confines of the classroom.”
Mr. Mittman said he was especially excited to join Benjamin because of its emphasis on academic excellence.
“Benjamin values curiosity and thoughtful work,” Mr. Mittman admired. “That creates space for meaningful projects and gives students the freedom to really push themselves creatively.”
This semester, Mr. Mittman plans to introduce projects that students can not only think about but also expect to complete, with sculpture assignments that incorporate storytelling.
“I’m excited to bring in projects that have both technical rigor and personal meaning,” Mr. Mittman noted. “I want students to think about why they’re making something, not just how.”
From a student perspective, Mr. Mittman’s teaching style has already made an impact. Freshman Connor Buchanan described the classroom environment as both relaxed and engaging.
“I like his way of teaching,” Buchanan said. “He is very mellow and gets his information out very softly. He makes sculpture fun.”
Looking ahead, Mr. Mittman hopes his students reflect positively on their experience in his class by the end of the year.
“I hope they feel challenged and supported,” Mr. Mittman said. “If they leave more confident in their ideas, more disciplined in their work, and more curious about the world, then I’ve done my job.”
