Welcome to Brazen Careerist!

About Me

TEACHER PHILOSOPHY

I firmly believe that one purpose of education is to teach children to be open-minded and accepting of all differences. The common saying "Knowledge is Power” holds true. Education should give both students and teachers the power to change the world for the better.

Learning should be student-centered and involve an active dialogue between student and teacher. It is important for art educators to have an excellent rapport with their students because children need to learn that they can trust adults and respect authority. In the art classroom, the role of the teacher is to provide a safe, structured, and creative environment, while the role of the student is simply to come to the art classroom with an open mind and a willingness to learn.

Throughout my years of schooling, I have always viewed the art room as a haven, a stimulating environment in which I can relax and simply be myself. As an art educator, I want to provide the same type of environment for my students. Every student should feel safe in the art classroom and feel that his or her ideas are unique and significant. Both the art educator and the student need to have a positive attitude to establish and maintain this creative environment. Some students may think that they are not good at art, but with a positive attitude, they will develop in pride in their artwork and in the creative process, which they can enjoy.

Unlike other disciplines in which there is a concrete answer for every problem, there is no right or wrong answer in art. Art teaches children that there is more than one way to reach a solution to a problem. It also teaches children to respect each other's differences, for every child has a unique artistic style. The artistic process can be easily related to other disciplines. For example, observation drawing can open up a student's eyes to the field of science.

I believe that art educators should teach art that comes from a variety of ideas and influences, including both multicultural and contemporary, so that students can gain an appreciation of diversity. Art educators should teach lessons that are engaging, lessons that can relate to the students' interests and experiences so that the final products are as diverse as the students themselves. Art educators should also act as catalysts of ideas and inspiration for their students; they should provide helpful hints and ask questions to enhance student thinking and learning.

I find teaching art to be the best job in the world. Art is my passion and to pass it on to young minds is an honor. Despite whatever is happening in today's world, I feel that, through art, children will learn to respect human life and their environs. I feel at home when I am in the art classroom, and I would not trade that sense of belonging and creativity for anything else.

Work History

• Peekskill City School District
• Substitute Teacher
• October 2007 to Present

• - Fills in for absent teacher for K-12 grade levels
  - Worked with a diverse number of students including Special Education and ESL
  - Teaches lesson plans left by absent teacher
  - Practices own classroom management techniques
  - Substitute teaches in Learning Enrichment Activities Program (LEAP), an after-school activity in the district

• Girls Quest-- Camp Oh-Neh-Tah
• Ceramics Specialist
• August 2010 to August 2011

• For the past two summers, I worked as the Ceramics Specialist in Camp Oh-Neh-Tah located in the Catskills. Most of the girls come from underserved areas in New York City and they are often excited to come to ceramics. I taught various hand-building techniques such as coiling, slab construction, pinchpots, and glazing. Topics include maskmaking, tiles, and sculptures. In addition, I helped plan and implement all-camp events such as Museum Night, Halloween, and Banquet with other Program Staff.

Education

• SUNY New Paltz
• Master of Science in Education in the Visual Arts, did studio concentration in Ceramics
• 2008 - 2010

• - Concentrated in Ceramics
  - Created artwork centered around a theme set by the Art Education Department
  - Wrote research/curriculum based thesis titled "Using Information Communication Technology to Promote and Enhance Intercultural Dialogue"
  - Presented thesis at United States Society for Education Through the Arts

• SUNY New Paltz
• Bachelor of Science in Art Education, Painting/Drawing
• 2003 - 2007

• -Graduated with 3.53 GPA
  -Was on Dean's List for 6 semesters