The challenges in teaching are many, but they are an exciting many. How do I inspire wonder and excitement while allowing each student to find beauty in their mistakes and hold an openness to failure? How can I cultivate a rigor that feels compelling rather than restrictive, one that invites investigation and discovery? These are a few of the questions central to my commitment in helping each student recognize and develop their goals, capabilities, and voice.
As a creative instructor, my highest priority is supporting students in cultivating both the ability and the desire for self-learning and inherent curiosity. Encouraging students to question the work they’re making, the world they inhabit, and the role they - and their work - play within it, prepares them not only as artists, but as thoughtful, engaged individuals. By drawing upon the knowledge and experiences each student already holds and supporting them through their discoveries, I help students build from within. By fostering students’ ability to communicate and articulate their ideas, concerns, and responses to the world around them, I consistently see ambitions accelerate, perspectives expand, and students begin to recognize their own potential for success.
A foundational value in my teaching practice is providing structure while remaining responsive and flexible within each project, assignment, or endeavor. Clear guidance and organization prevent students from feeling overwhelmed or discouraged, while flexibility allows students to take ownership of their learning through personal interpretation and creative decision-making. Every individual learns differently, and it is my responsibility as an educator to observe carefully and respond to what is, or is not, resonating, engaging, and supporting growth. Rather than enforcing a rigid or generalized classroom structure, I continually adjust and refine pre-existing frameworks to best meet the needs of each individual student.
Through my own experience as a student, I understand how profoundly impactful a teacher can be in a student’s life, and I do not take this responsibility lightly. I embrace the significance of an educator’s role and make it a priority to show my students the respect I hold for them. I actively seek feedback, listen closely to student responses, and remain attentive to classroom dynamics and outcomes in order to evolve my teaching practice. By doing so, I aim to create a learning environment grounded in mutual respect, openness, and continuous growth—for both my students and myself.