Join us as Art Rothfuss, Harley’s visual storyteller, sits down with Karen Sauldo to reflect on his decade at the school and discuss the profound connections and unique programs that bring true meaning to his work within the Harley community.
Art Rothfuss, our multimedia specialist, has been an indispensable part of The Harley School for nearly ten years, beginning his journey here in December 2015. Since then, he has served as the school’s visual storyteller, documenting the community spirit and experiences that define the Harley experience.
The Art of Authentic Storytelling
Art’s primary goal as a visual artist is to authentically tell the stories that unfold daily across campus. When people see his photos and videos, he hopes they gain a genuine sense of what it’s actually like to be here—the hard work, the palpable joy, and the strength of Harley’s community.
Connecting with Students
Art shares a trusted relationship with the students, who often open up during media projects. He believes this connection stems from treating students with the same respect he shows his own family.
Central to this relationship is the progressive environment at Harley, which minimizes the traditional power dynamic often seen between adults and children.
“There’s this level of respect that’s always there,” Art says. “We always value kids’ opinions and their thoughts and their personhood and their personality. That’s not necessarily the case with, quote unquote, authority figures and kids.”
He credits the Harley environment with building this philosophy, noting that he learned by watching how other teachers and students interacted with deep mutual respect.
Documenting the Uniquely Harley Experience
Art’s work often extends beyond his official job description, driven by his passion for documenting the school’s most impactful and unique programs.
The Hospice Program
One program that captivated Art is the Harley Hospice Program, which allows 17- and 18-year-old students to provide care for dying individuals—a truly unique offering.
“This is a story that I just really feel needs to be told more,” Art says. “The impact this has for the students, for the residents, and for the greater community is truly incredible.”
Driven by this mission, Art audited the class, learning the practical skills and emotional processing techniques alongside the students. He was blown away by their maturity and grounded approach to such profound experiences.
Art initially aimed to create a photographic documentary, but found capturing images of hospice patients difficult due to ethical concerns regarding consent at the end of life. However, the audio he captured—students processing their experiences in real-time—was remarkable. He hopes to continue this project by producing an audio-only podcast where students can share their powerful experiences and reflections.
The Most Fulfilling Work
While Art wears many hats—teacher, storyteller, documentarian, and mentor—he finds the most fulfilling part of his job, hands-down, is working with students.
Whether he is helping Middle Schoolers develop a newscast of the daily Scoop Sheet, facilitating
a student-led food-centric podcast, or simply acting as a sounding board for a student working on a college video application, he is constantly striving to give students a space to create outside the standard curriculum.
Art fully embraces the philosophy of former colleague Chris Hartman, who always emphasized that “every employee in this building is an educator.” Regardless of job title, Art sees it as his responsibility to mentor and support every student at every level.
The Heart of Harley: Capturing the Core
When asked what stands out as the moments that capture the true heart of Harley, Art points to two things in particular:
- Candlelight: “It is a deep Harley tradition, but I think how we celebrate it now of truly, authentically celebrating the real diversity of the school in such a formal way, captures a very core element of what this place is.”
- Organic Learning Moments: He recalls a photograph from years ago of three students lying on their stomachs in Flag Hall next to a beautiful window, taking notes and brainstorming about a class topic. “Those moments, I think, encapsulate the learning that takes place here and how it takes place—that it’s not always kids sitting in a classroom, with a teacher at the front talking. It is more organic and it’s more hands-on.”
For Art, documenting Harley is about capturing these spontaneous moments where curiosity meets community and students truly become their fullest selves.
