I have always loved learning. Growing up, the art classroom was a place for me to go whenever I needed a safe space, try something new, or be around supportive art teachers. I love being a teacher so that I can help students be able to express themselves creatively.  Art is a large part of my identity. It helps me process my thoughts and is there for me like a friend who will always pick up when you call. I find that there is always something new you can learn, whether a tried and true methods or pure experimentation that might not work. It is important to me that my students learn the value of trying something new and problem-solving along the way. I know that not every student will feel passionate about art making, but I hope they can find an aspect of my class that brings value to their lives and helps them learn about themselves. 

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I embrace every student from all backgrounds. Art is for everyone, and everyone can be successful in the art classroom. That success might look different for each student. I hope to teach my students skills beyond art techniques. I embrace mistakes and encourage students to problem-solve using their critical thinking skills. I encourage my students to discover, explore, and find their own paths, focusing on student-centered and choice-based learning. I strive for responsive teaching that allows for me to adapt to the needs of every group of students. This allows me to plan for interventions and extensions to expand their learning. I work hard to build trusting relationships with my students and for them to connect with each other. This creates a classroom community where we can all know that we are here to be as successful as we can be. Overall, my goal in teaching is to provide a sense of belonging to my students. I do hope they can walk away with projects and some art knowledge, but that comes second to knowing that they have a place where they matter.