It has been nearly one year since the Lake Forest community lost a beloved teacher at LFHS, Niki Stage. After a medical emergency on May 1, she was hospitalized and passed away on May 19. 

Mrs. Stage touched the lives of many students and faculty members at LFHS. After hearing the news of her passing, colleagues were heartbroken to lose their friend, and students were devastated to lose an inspiring mentor. 

“She was an outstanding faculty member, artist, teacher, and friend. As a teacher and faculty member, she was so positive and always thinking about her students. She had a love for Lake Forest High School, and she is greatly missed,” Principal Dr. Lenart said. 

Today, there remains a collective sense of loss and a deep appreciation for her life’s work. Our community continues to honor Mrs. Stage’s brilliance and lasting legacy. 

In last year’s yearbook, a remembrance page was dedicated to Mrs. Stage as well as two other faculty members who passed away, Mrs. Angela Hill and Mrs. Yvonne Lovelady. 

The same year, the LFEA Exec Board voted to establish a new annual $1000 scholarship in honor of Mrs. Stage. 

The memorial scholarship, titled the LFEA Fine Art Memorial Scholarship in Honor of Mrs. Niki Stage, will recognize a graduating senior “who embodies a creative, vibrant, and joyful spirit while positively contributing to their art classroom environment.”

Each year, the members of the Art Department will select the recipient, and the award will be presented at Honors Night. 

Mrs. Stage was originally from Mount Prospect. She shared 20 years of marriage with her husband, Jason. Together, they raised two sons who are now 17 and 13. 

Mrs. Stage joined the LFHS faculty as an art teacher in 2020. She taught a variety of art classes, including Drawing & Painting, Art Foundations, Photography 1, and the Business of Fashion. In just a few years, she built strong connections with students and colleagues, becoming a cherished presence in our school community. 

Graphic design and art teacher Carolyn Bielski worked closely with Mrs. Stage and said that she “brought an energy and positivity to the workplace that made each day fun.”

“In the classroom, students loved that she always had great music playing, and nothing seemed to stress her out. She was known for creative curriculum ideas, like in the Business of Fashion class in which she held a toilet paper garment design competition on Halloween!” Bielski said. 

Mrs. Stage’s colleagues in the art department agreed that Mrs. Stage clearly had a pulse on what curricular offerings students wanted to see. Mrs. Stage proposed a new course: Fashion Design. Almost immediately, two full sections of students registered for it last May, successfully adding it to the course handbook. 

“Typically, new courses start at one and grow—or not—from there. I was asked to teach the course this year, which meant that I had to write all the lessons based on Mrs. Stage’s outline. As I wrote, I did my best to remember conversations I had with her about what she envisioned,” Bielski said. 

In the summer of 2023, the Foundation granted the entire Art Department a week of study at SCAD in Savannah, GA. The course Mrs. Stage took that week was Fashion Design, and in that class, Mrs. Stage designed a three-garment fashion collection—which is now a unit included in the Fashion Design class. 

Mrs. Stage’s determination to create a course that reflected her students’ interests led to its success. 

“Mrs. Stage talked about students expressing a desire to do a lot of sewing, so she had researched which sewing machine would be best for students. The machines she chose are amazing. In Fashion class, we have three sewing units: PJ shorts, pillows, and upcycling, which means  taking a fabric or garment and giving it a new life by redesigning and sewing it,” Bielski said. 

As Mrs. Stage shared her ideas for the class, many of her students conveyed their enthusiasm for enrolling and being taught by her. 

“I have a vivid memory of her and me talking about the new design class she was creating. She asked if I would take it, and I immediately said yes. I was so excited for it to be my senior elective and to have her as my teacher. When I found out she passed away, I was in shock. The first thing that popped in my head was the new class—and not having her as my teacher,” senior Cecilia Lemon said. 

Students currently taking the Fashion Design course have fallen in love with its curriculum, which offers them artistic freedom to express themselves. 

“As of now, I am currently taking her Fashion Design class with Mrs. Bielski. It has been my favorite class I have taken in all four years of high school. Mrs. Stage designed the class to be creative, individual, and fun,” Lemon said. 

It was agreed upon by students that the Fashion Design course is a true reflection of Mrs. Stage’s creative spirit. 

“Ms. Stage created this class because she truly cared about her students. It really mirrors who she was—warm, imaginative, and full of life,” senior Ava Starks said.

Mrs. Stage was known for her engaging and approachable teaching style, which resonated with students across campus. Her Business of Fashion class, in particular, became a favorite among many, with students expressing their appreciation for the creativity of the curriculum she thoughtfully crafted.

“Mrs. Stage always made the classroom really dynamic; I remember two projects that were especially fun. In one, we all formed groups and designed dresses out of toilet paper, then we wrapped each other in them and strutted down a makeshift runway—it was hilarious and unforgettable,” junior Elizabeth Specketer said. “The other was this origami project where we made our own origami swans and then got to paint them! She had a way of making even the smallest details in art feel meaningful.”

For students, Mrs. Stage was more than a teacher—she was a mentor and a source of encouragement. Many credit her with sparking their passion for the arts. 

“I was in Mrs. Stage’s Business of Fashion 8th period last year; her class was one I looked forward to everyday. Her curriculum made me fall in love with the business side of fashion and helped me realize that it is what I would like to pursue in the future. She genuinely loved what she did and wanted the best for her students,” junior Eliza Carrabine said. 

Mrs. Stage’s classroom wasn’t just a place for creating art—it was a place where her students felt seen, heard, and supported. Students grew not only artistically under Mrs. Stage’s guidance, but also personally as they formed meaningful connections throughout the school year. 

“When I learned the news, I was heartbroken. She made an effort to truly get to know her students throughout the year that some teachers do not make. I look back on my moments with Mrs. Stage very fondly, and I hope her brightness and love of teaching continues to shine throughout Lake Forest High School,” Carribine said. 

Beyond her role as a teacher, Mrs. Stage pursued her art as a separate career; she was a gifted children’s book illustrator. Her first book, Big Truck Day, was illustrated during her time at LFHS. 

Additionally, she made designs and uploaded them to a digital printing company called Spoonflower, a web marketplace that supports artists by publishing their art to share with the world. Mrs. Stage’s designs reached a wide audience, allowing them to print her custom designs as fabric, wallpaper, and home decor. 

While her artistic talents were remarkable, it was her unwavering dedication and kindness that truly inspired so many at LFHS. Mrs. Stage’s colleagues in the Art Department continue to honor her memory and celebrate the lasting impression she left on their lives both personally and professionally. 

“We loved our colleague. Her apron still hangs on a hook in our department office, as we feel she is still a valuable part of our team,” Bielski said. 

The Lake Forest community continues to feel her absence; from the beautifully decorated classroom walls in the art rooms to the hearts of those who knew her, Mrs. Stage’s legacy lives on.