Teaching Philosophy

I believe context is everything, especially when learning visual art—why we make art, what we notice about it, and how meaning emerges through process. My approach to art education is experiential. Students learn by experimenting, revising, and trying again until their ideas take shape and sometimes even reshaping in the process. My classroom is a space for experimentation, trial and error, and reconfiguration that incorporates Universal Design for Learning where students can engage with materials, ideas, and processes in multiple ways and at different entry points. Through skill-building in drawing or painting, students gain the tools they need to translate ideas into images and shapes, understanding that growth comes not from getting it “right,” but from staying curious and engaged in the process. I support students in working beyond their current abilities by offering guidance, modeling, and feedback that help them move forward with confidence—an approach aligned with Vygotsky’s concept of the Zone of Proximal Development.

The more students do, the more they see—literally and socially. As they practice techniques, observe artwork, and study artists, they begin to understand why art matters. I intentionally create opportunities for students to draw from their cultural backgrounds, personal experiences, and identities, positioning these as valuable sources of knowledge within the classroom while supporting equitable participation and voice for all students.Seeing their peers’ artwork allows students to understand each other in new ways, often fostering empathy, respect, and connection. Sydney Gurewitz Clemens, author of Follow the Child, writes, “Art has the role in education of helping students become more like themselves instead of more like everyone else.” I strive to create an environment where students feel safe to trust their own ideas, individualize, and try something new. My goal is for students to leave the classroom with the skills and confidence to apply visual thinking beyond the art room.