Teaching

Philosophy

As a K–12 art educator, I believe that meaningful teaching begins with truly knowing my students. Building authentic relationships rooted in trust, empathy, and consistency creates a classroom where every learner feels seen, heard, and valued. My goal is to design lessons that act as both mirrors and windows—mirrors that reflect students’ identities, cultures, and lived experiences, and windows that invite them to explore perspectives beyond their own.

Whether working with kindergartners discovering line and color or high schoolers exploring symbolism and self-portraiture, I create inclusive studio spaces where students are encouraged to take creative risks, embrace mistakes, and express themselves with confidence. I intentionally scaffold instruction to support all learners, including English Language Learners, students with IEPs, and those who need extra encouragement to engage.

I believe that young people, especially those from underrepresented and marginalized communities, hold powerful wisdom. They are not just learners but teachers with important stories to tell. Art gives them a voice, a place to reflect and respond, and a way to connect across differences. In my classroom, I aim to show students that their ideas matter and that the arts can be a source of joy, healing, and meaningful impact.

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes,

but in having new eyes.”

Marcel Proust

Teaching the Arts

I feel incredibly fortunate to be an educator in the arts. Art education is essential because of how it nurtures identity, voice, emotional expression, and critical thinking. Art invites students to explore who they are, what they believe, and how they connect to the world around them. It offers a powerful space for healing, questioning, uniting, and challenging ideas.

As an artist, I once described my work as rooted in universality—a desire to connect through shared human experience. That same intention guides my teaching. I believe the purpose of education is to grow more empathetic, curious, and engaged citizens. In the art room, students learn to express themselves, collaborate, and reflect in meaningful and transformative ways. Through the arts, I am honored to contribute to something purposeful, beautiful, and deeply needed in our schools and communities.