Now in his third year at Concord Academy, Alec Kaus has quickly become a beloved member of the visual arts department as the photography teacher. In his time here, he has sought to revamp the photo program and continues streamlining it. Kaus is a student favorite now, but his path to CA was far from straightforward.
Born in rural Nebraska, Kaus attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for his undergraduate degree and took some time off after graduating to gain job experience. He worked at Maine Media Workshops where he affirmed his love for teaching, especially at the high school level. From there, Kaus received his Master of Fine Arts from the University of Georgia, allowing him to focus on teaching and art. After he graduated in 2020, there were few immediate teaching opportunities, so Kaus opted to find work as a freelancer, during which time he moved to Massachusetts for his partner’s new job. From there, CA’s job posting seemed like a natural fit and Kaus said, “I was drawn in by the school’s mission, collegiate feel, and commitment to the visual arts as a foundational element of a well-rounded academic program.”
Kaus has implemented most of the changes he initially sought to make, primarily aiming to make the class progression simpler. Instead of a complex array of classes beginning with darkroom and then options for both film and digital, the photography curriculum now starts with an introductory class using digital cameras and then focuses more on portfolio-building and special topics classes. The special topics classes, like the “Evidence, True Crime, and Photography” class offered this fall, give students an opportunity to learn something unique and Kaus an opportunity to research a new topic and build a class from it. These classes will be offered on a rotating basis so students can dive deeply into several niche topics over their time at CA.
Kaus loves all things photo, whether it is talking about them, working with them, or taking them. He explained, “Photography is a flexible medium that allows for anybody to express themselves in a creative way.” Kaus notes how much CA students care about their work and want to do well. From Chadron, Nebraska to Rockport, Maine, Kaus has seen a lot of photos, but he has still been impressed with the work of CA students during his time here.