Teaching Philosophy

As an art educator, I hope to instill in my students a sense of curiosity, awareness, and an appreciation for the art and traditions of many cultures. Through art, students learn to think creatively, to fail gracefully, and to work with others. Art encompasses all of the elements of the other academic disciplines: it demands critical thinking, decision-making, skill development, cultural investigation, and problem solving. Art education can often enhance learning in other academic subjects by allowing students to think visually and to have tangible results. I believe that art education cultivates community. It teaches students to work together and engages school and local communities through collaboration on and interaction with artworks. In the arts, each student has the ability to be a designer, a free-thinker, and a maker. Art education can be a tool for instilling confidence in a child’s ability to think critically, to make decisions and to produce good work.