My experiences as a student and my identity as an artist have led me to my path of teaching. From my roots as a visual artist, I've always been drawn to experimentation, self-expression, and storytelling. I always used art to process the world around me and better understand myself. In that same sense, a similar creative curiosity led me to the classroom. I truly believe that art has so m my house Niceuch power; it can unlock voice, confidence, and agency in young people. I think about development a lot in both my teaching practice and my artistic practice. Pictures and visuals are the first things we learn how to communicate. Before we know how to speak, we know what something looks like. I find that to be profoundly important, and that is why I find art to have significance to all people, young or old. As I grow into my teachings, I am committed to creating spaces where students can experience and become artists, leaders, creatives, and human beings. 

As a growing educator, I truly strive to create an inclusive, responsive, and safe classroom community, especially for the students who can feel overlooked, disconnected, and discouraged from traditional learning environments. Teaching is not just about delivering content and pushing out lessons. What I really value in the classroom is building relationships, fostering trust, and being able to recognize the individual uniqueness every student has to offer. Teachers serve as experts, motivators, and facilitators. While I believe that all to be true, what I seek as an educator is to be empathetic, inclusive, and to value students' growth. I want to guide students towards critical thinking, self-reflection, community values, and confidence in their ideas, while still modeling Integrity, respect, and curiosity.

In my student teaching, many of my experiences have strengthened my belief in and the importance of a public art education. School is often the first place where a student will encounter creative opportunities to explore their own interests and learn how to understand artistic practices. For many students, it might be their only access to the arts, so during their time in the classroom, I am committed to ensuring that all students are given the tools, encouragement, and space to explore their creativity, even if they do not yet consider themselves artists. I will make sure they will leave feeling proud of something that they have made. My goal is to help students recognize and reflect on their potential, develop their voice, and build the confidence that extends beyond the art room.

I am passionate about teaching art because of its ability to create meaningful, lasting impact. I hope to foster a classroom where students feel supported, challenged, and inspired, and where they can grow not only as artists but as individuals.