Educational Philosophy

The purpose of education is to prepare students for their futures. Interpersonal skills, critical thinking, and creativity are all essential. The future is unpredictable. A successful education gives us the tools to face new challenges and the skills to teach ourselves whatever else we may need to learn. I believe that this can be taught through any subject. Art is unique because art is a unifier, it is a language that everyone can speak, and it has the potential to connect all subjects. Art is exploratory, we look inward at ourselves, create with others, discover how we see the world, and make connections throughout. Art is a critical medium for learning.
Every student learns differently. There is no one-size-fits-all instructional strategy. As educators, I believe the best thing we can do is help students understand how learning works and what methods work best for them. When students can advocate for what they need, they can take their education into their own hands and work with their teachers to create the best situation for themselves. I truly believe in a student-centered approach to teaching. Creating a safe environment and good relationships with students are the two most important parts of teaching. I will listen to, observe, participate with, and invest in my students. I develop a culturally responsive curriculum tailored to my students' relevancies in order to create engaging lessons. 
I am teaching students how to live and work with others, how to think creatively, and to always be curious and hungry for new experiences. The study of Art teaches students the skills they won’t easily find anywhere else; how to analyze information and think for themselves, how to teach themselves, how to approach difficulty, self-reflection, and self-expression, and how to interact with others and the world. I want my students to walk out of my classroom with the confidence that no matter what life throws at them, they will figure it out. The most important aspects of my teaching are attention, genuineness, enthusiasm, and creativity. Every student I interact with will change the world in their own time and in their own way. If I can help them, encourage them, learn with them, then I get to be a part of that incredible process!