My primary goal as a teacher is to equip students with the tools they need to thrive beyond the walls of a classroom. In my art room, my aim is to cultivate a space that fosters self-expression, emotional regulation, and a love of learning – all crucial skills for navigating life with confidence. A trauma-informed and neurodiversity-affirming approach underpins my teaching philosophy, ensuring that all students feel safe, supported, and empowered to learn.

Student-centered classroom management is a cornerstone of my practice. It allows students to understand why they're learning, fostering a sense of agency and self-efficacy. Students thrive when they feel respected and have a voice in the learning process. This approach is particularly important for students who may have experienced trauma or have neurodivergent needs. By fostering collaboration and respecting individual differences, we minimize friction and power struggles, creating a harmonious learning environment.

This philosophy reflects the mentorship I received from a teacher who excelled at classroom management. He maintained a kind yet firm presence, ensuring a productive space even when challenges such as interpersonal conflict between students arose. He addressed issues with respect for students' autonomy and viewpoints, inspiring a model of non-patronizing authority and warmth that I strive to emulate.

When selecting artists, pieces, and movements to instruct on and utilize as examples for my students, I prioritize connections to students' lives. My lessons encourage deeper reflection on how art relates to their personal identities and emotions. By exposing students to diverse perspectives, styles, and mediums, I broaden their horizons and cultivate empathy for others. Students are remarkably capable of reflecting and forming their own opinions when presented with complex themes, even without explicit prompting. My curriculum is carefully crafted to ensure students are not familiar solely with art considered to be part of the “classical canon” but also receiving a strong foundation in both historical and contemporary art that reflects and empowers their identities.