Teaching Philosophy

Art is something that has been a fundamental part of my life since I was very young. Growing up I enrolled in as many art classes as I could, both inside and outside of school. I am very fortunate to have had access to a high-quality art education, but I know not everyone has that opportunity, especially in my home state of Kentucky. My interest in working in art education began because I am passionate about advocating for the arts in schools and want to play a role in making the arts more accessible for everyone. I believe accessibility is important both in terms of the literal availability of arts programming, but also when it comes to developing curriculum that is inclusive and relatable to students. The art room was always the place where I felt most comfortable being myself, and I hope to create the same environment for my future students. I intend to do this by developing lessons that reflect my students’ interests and identities and allowing room for exploration of a wide range of artistic mediums, styles, and processes. I believe it is more important that students feel comfortable experimenting (and sometimes making mistakes) with their work rather than feeling pressured to create a perfectly polished piece of art. The knowledge and skills learned in an art classroom are incredibly valuable and transferable to other disciplines, and more learning takes place when students can step out of their comfort zone. The creativity, problem-solving skills, and confidence I have gained from my art classes have made me a better artist, student, and person. I cannot emphasize enough the impact that my art teachers have had on me throughout the years, and I hope to be that teacher for my future students.

Letter to Future Students

To my future students, I hope that our time together is one of learning and discovery. I aim to provide you with lots of opportunities to work with a wide variety of mediums and techniques, some (or maybe all) of which may be new to you. We will also study both contemporary and historical artists and art movements, which means we may at times encounter challenging themes or subject matter. However, it is my priority to create a learning environment where you feel safe, respected, and as if you are able to express yourself in your work. There may be times when you or I make a mistake—a natural consequence of being an artist—but I want to emphasize that I am here to be a supporter and a resource for you during our lessons. I look forward to getting to know you!