Teaching Philosophy

“Art is about experimenting! That’s why we call it a practice”

An art classroom should feel safe and joyous and like a community. My students know that when they come to the art room, I’m always going to be asking them to “Tell me more!” — about answers they give, the idea they might have for a project, a question about a challenging technique, or piece of art. I’m always going to ask them to tell me more.

When my students ask, “Can I tell you something?” I know I’ve hooked them. Through curriculum content, I activate students’ higher thinking, challenge them to reach new heights, and spark their curiosity.

I want my students to feel like they can tell me what’s sparked their imagination, what they’ve noticed about the world around them, and what’s bothering them or on their minds. Creating an active and engaged art space is part of creating a classroom environment where that is possible. Finding ways to connect their lived experiences to the visual world around them, helping them put a name and technique to the ideas they already have, giving them my patience and support as they work through mistakes, new challenges, and growing up is the core of how I approach teaching.