Art Educator
I am a visual artist and art educator. That means, aside from having the great fortune of being able to pursue my creative work, I have the pleasure of sharing my passion for visual art with some of the most fun and exciting people on the planet- young people. Every day is inspiring working as a visual art teacher.
My students are at a magical time in their lives- free-spirited, introspective, and inquisitive. It is in sharing with my students the joy of exploration, learning, and overcoming the challenges inherent in art-making that makes art education my calling and passion.
My teaching philosophy is anchored in endeavoring to meet the needs of my students as individuals and as members of their community, speaking of art as relevant to their experiences, teaching for social responsibility, and nurturing creativity and individuality. The visual art classroom also provides a unique teaching environment that harnesses the skills necessary for the 21st century learner. Creating a safe space for trial and error, creative problems solving, inventiveness, and innovation are essential parts of the art classroom experience. These skills, considered key to the success of future leaders, inventors, and workers, are often neglected in our culture of high stakes testing, yet they remain the keystone of the visual art classroom.
I pride myself on my authentic, organic approach to teaching. My dedication to genuine artistic exploration and individual student experience in the classroom is deeply felt and expressed in my interactions with students, collaboration with peers, and the design of my curriculum.
K-12 Visual Art Coordinator
As an administrator and curriculum coordinator it is critical that my work is student-centered and focused on student experience and voice. I am passionate about supporting educators through professional development, access to resources, curriculum review, and high quality feedback on teaching.
Social justice is a cornerstone of my philosophy as an arts administrator. It is critical that educators work to provide all students with access to a high quality education in where their unique experiences, backgrounds, and cultures are honored and celebrated and in which they are safe from prejudice, microaggressions, and bias in the art room. Art teachers must commit to social justice through education both in their curriculum and practices. Departmentally LPS VA&D have begun this work through professional development, curriculum review, and Professional Learning Communities. This work is responsive to the concepts of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion it is anchored in restorative practices, anti-racism, and anti-bias and core to our departmental philosophy.