Teacher as a Person

It is my responsibility to model positivity and professionality in the classroom. I consistently portray professionalism through planning, organization, punctuality, and preparation. I believe in self-reflection as a transformational and foundational aspect of effective teaching and serves as the basis for continuous learning, and a successful practice. Lastly, I value the importance and significance place in the promotion and modelling of wellness through the balance of the mind, body, and soul is important for the students and teacher.  

Cultivating Positive & Meaningful Connections

I believe in educators demonstrating a strong and memorable presence in the classroom. As an educator, it is important for me to create an open, honest and pluralistic atmosphere in my classroom. It is integral to foster students natural sense of adventure in discovery and exploration. It is important to educate children to comprehend their personal value through emphasizing individual integrity and principles. It is important to me to get to learn about my students and see them as individuals to better support them in the classroom and throughout their educational careers. I want them to feel supported and inspired and it is important to make sure my classroom has the warmth and encouragement they need to achieve success.

The Love & Pursuit of Education

As a practicing visual artist, I continuously demonstrate my own commitment and dedication to life-long learning to better my own practice and that of my students. I am passionate about the Arts and I believe the continuation of my own skill development and experimentation is an important aspect of my success as a visual arts educator. I believe successful art teachers have a symbiotic relationship with their students because, we are all continuous learners when it comes to the arts. I believe growth and passion outweighs skill, and I take this into account when I am assessing my student’s progress. I use meaningful and varied assessment practices to support and respect all learners to communicate student’s proficiency and learning. I believe assessment is a constant and ongoing practice that is integral and foundational within the planning, teaching and learning cycle. I believe it is important to align assessment and curriculum to find a balance when approaching classroom assessment. While assessment is integral for student achievement, assessment strategies should focus on opportunities for students to demonstrate their learning in a positive and constructive way.

A Safe & Inclusive Community

I cultivate a safe and positive classroom community that values the diversity, beliefs and disposition of every student. I make it a priority in my classroom to not only “teach the mind” but to also “teach to the heart” a term that is used by Dr. Martin Brokenleg. I believe in creating an inclusive environment to support children of all abilities by embracing differentiated, unconventional, and alternative approaches of education to support all styles of learning. My planning is developed to support equitable access to learning opportunities and instructional accommodations that allow all students the opportunity to demonstrate successful learning.