Community Arts Partner

Teaching Approach

Teaching Philosophy + Approach

Art is not a set of skills but a process of seeing and solving problems in creative ways. My goal as an arts educator is to provide a rich environment where students can explore and find their own solutions, a process-oriented path that allows the student to look at things from different perspectives, develop innovative thinking, and to solve problems creatively. My work is about thinking like an artist, no matter which subject we are in. It is about developing and recognizing creative thinking, problem solving, and other 21st Century skills. I challenge learners to be observers in the world around them and to examine what they see, ultimately translating their personal impressions into art – be it a drawing, group project, or something else completely. By making authentic connections between the arts and other academic areas, art-based learning helps students make connections between disciplines and aids their creative thinking and learning in and across subjects.

Curriculum Integration Possibilities

Teaching art directly or across an integrated curriculum, I approach education from an inter- and cross-disciplinary mindset. I am excited in collaborative interdisciplinary teaching environments, and bringing art into the non-arts classroom. My interest and experience in foreign cultures and seeing the world from different perspectives is a natural tie-in for many subjects. Art teaches us about other cultures and worldviews, helping provide a foundation for empathy and cross-cultural understanding in the world. I have developed and taught in many long-term arts-integrated social studies programs at area schools. Art is also a good vehicle  for exploring other subjects. Art can help students understand math and science concepts in fun and hands on ways, and has a inherent SEL component. I have had good results in Language Arts, Literacy, Social Sciences, History, Geography, Math, and the Sciences.

Special Skills and Areas of Expertise

I have a special interest in world cultures. Exploring cultural worldviews other than one’s own expands the way one sees and understands the world around us. Art does the same thing – it allows one to see things from a different perspective. Turn that around and it is also true. Art is vital in learning about and understanding other cultures. Having worked as a Peace Corps Volunteer in both Africa and Melanesia, traveled widely in SE Asia, and taught English as a Second Language at the Thurston County Refugee Center and at EF Language School, I have extensive experience in cross-cultural education and communication.  

Testimonials from Schools

" Students were not simply painting scenes of early history, but were developing historical interpretations through art, working collaboratively to solve problems, and creating displays that reflected their person interpretation of historic events."  Avanti High School Social Studies teacher. "The students were challenged to think in new ways. I changed my curriculum after working with you."  Charles Wright Academy Middle School teacher. Student quotes: "I used to think art was boring. I didn’t see the point. Art class was a goof-off class. Now I think…art is fun. I understand the importance of it. Art class is a fun but hard-working environment." "I used to think art was about drawing good. It was supposed to be about fancy paintings in museums and stuff. Now I know, it is about simple but complicated things. Art is about doing it."