Teaching Experience
2021
Washburn and Walton Elementary Schools, Student Teacher, Auburn, ME
Deering High School, Student Teacher, Deering, ME
2020
Waynflete Elementary School Co-teacher, Portland, ME
South Portland Parks and Recreation Co-teacher, South Portland, ME
Collaboration with Space Gallery- Co-organizer, Portland, ME
Adventures in Art Co-teacher, Brunswick & BoothBay, ME
Virtual Art Fair (August) teacher at Maine College of Art, Portland, ME
Virtual Art Fair (November) teacher at Maine College of Art, Portland, ME
MAT Informational Webinar, Maine College of Art, Portland, ME
Teaching Philosophy
My teaching practice is rooted in building the creative confidence of my students and inspiring a lifelong appreciation and enthusiasm for art. I believe that every student has a valuable artistic voice and is capable of making meaningful self discoveries and connections through the art-making process. As an art educator it is my job to provide a safe and nourishing environment that will set my students up for success. To me, a huge part of creating this safe environment is taking an active interest in getting to know each of my students. Creating and fostering authentic relationships with all of my students is not only a priority to me, but also paramount to my success as an art teacher. Equally as important to me is teaching and modeling equity in my classroom and building a curriculum that is both inclusive and flexible to the needs of my students.
I believe that the art classroom is a place of collaboration, exploration, and creative problem solving. I use choice-based learning to encourage students to own their learning and explore materials that they are personally curious about. It is this sense of curiosity and play that fosters creative confidence in my students. To me, the art classroom offers us the opportunity to connect authentically with the world around us and let our voices be heard.
As a practicing artist, I value the vibrant community of artists that enrich the city of Portland. I make it a priority to introduce contemporary and local artists into my lessons whenever possible to create connections for my students within their communities. Collaborating with local museums, art initiatives, and other schools is something I plan to do to allow my students to take their artistic voices beyond the classroom.
