When AJ Lee first met David Upegui, she had already heard he was the coolest teacher in school.
“His classroom was really, really the hotspot, the go-to,” Lee said. “He was the coolest teacher. Everybody knew him.”
Upegui, the lead singer for Infusion Evolution, is a science teacher at Central Falls High School. He’s been celebrated in Rhode Island and nationally for his work as a PBS Digital Innovator.
“A lot of times as a teacher, I aim to just be a mirror to show my students that their world has been waiting for them,” Upegui said when we spoke with him and Lee ahead of Season 4 of Ocean State Sessions. “That society can be better because of who they are and what they bring to the table.”
Upegui often sees the potential of his students, as was the case when he met Lee, “You knew when you looked in her eyes that there was this fire inside of her and that the world really needs all of the talents that she brings with her.”
Not long after they first met, Upegui saw a Facebook video of her singing and was blown away.
“That was the point where I realized that, yeah, not only does she say she can sing, but she really can sing.”
If not for that Facebook video, Upegui may have never seen her talent. At the time, Central Falls High School didn’t have a music program. So he invited Lee to see his band Infusion Evolution play.
“I just remember being so drawn in and I remember afterwards I said to him, one day, I’m going to be in your band, but I didn’t think that that was actually possible.”
Now, Upegui and Lee sing together for Infusion Evolution. The duo performed along with the rest of the band in season 4 of Ocean State Sessions. Check out their full performance below:
