My drive to teach art stems from my love for education, as well as the artistic expression that students find within work. Through using my own experience as an artist and educator to reach out and experience the world, I can foster an appreciation of art within those I teach. I enjoy seeing students feel capable when they are creating and talking about their work, and want to encourage young artists to continue their artistic journey.
Education is the lens through which students interpret the world. In the art education classroom, students are encouraged to engage with new materials and experiment with new forms of materiality. When students undergo a successful art education experience which allows them to experience new materials, they are able to express aspects of their world and discover new things about themselves. As an art educator, I encourage my students to discover freedom in their own expression as well as gain love competency in the materials they use.
I believe a successful art program considers the needs of the students first. The art program considers the intersectionality of students within the class, as well as their interests and motivation for making art. The art program thinks about the students' age range when considering curriculum development, and focuses on aspects of art which challenge students, as well as encourage and enable them to focus on the state standards.
Furthermore, a successful art program considers the narrative of what an artist is, and emphasizes that anyone can make art. The art program understands art as a wide interpretation of creative expressions, and seeks to scaffold students in their artistic journey and growth. A successful art program thinks about the emotional well-being of its students and gives them tools to process their own emotions through art-making and creation. Students who have the power of art-making and ideation engage with the world in a way in which they impact others.Through their newly gained emotional and visual literacy, students are given tools to make an impact on their local communities by sharing their knowledge and understanding with others.