Teaching Portfolio

Over the last decade of teaching, I have developed a wide range of visual art lessons adapted to diverse groups of students, class sizes, available funding, and learning environments. A selection of these lesson plans is below. Each lesson teaches essential art skills with cross-curricular connections and also includes assessments, accommodations for diverse learners, and standard-aligned learning objectives.

Education
- College of Saint Rose, 2014
  - M.S. Art Education, Graduate Honors
- University of Mary Washington, 2006
  - B.A. Studio Art, Magna Cum Laude
Cerification
- Arizona Teaching Certificate, 2023 (Pending)
  - K-12 Art Endorsement
- New York State Initial Certificate, 2015
  - K-12 Art Education
  - edTPA Certification Score, 3.93
Student Teaching
- P.S. 144 Elementary, Forest Hills, Queens, NY
  - K-5 Primary
- Forest Hills High School, Queens, NY
  - 9-12 Secondary
Experience
- Dancing Crayons Workshop, 2017-Present
  - Provide robust art education to students ages 3-14 in the form of afterschool art classes and theme-driven, week-long summer camps.
  - Instruct students in diverse mediums including drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, collage, digital art, clay, textiles, etc.
  - Manage and execute all business functions including brand development, advertising, social media, web design, finances, etc.
- Third Street Elementary, 2022
  - Designed and implemented standards-aligned art lessons for students in grades Pre-K-5 in a public school setting (600+ students)
  - Taught lessons grounded in the elements and principles of art, culturally diverse historical and contemporary artwork references, and interdisciplinary connections.
  - Provided formative and summative lesson assessments and student-led opportunities for self-reflection and peer feedback.
- Zooga Yoga, 2019-2020
  - Messy Art Teacher (Ages 2-5)
- Trampoline Design, 2006-2013
  - Production Coordinator, Copywriter
I believe art is an incredible tool to better understand ourselves and our fellow humans. Through this lens, I strive to guide my students to their innate creativity and compassion. My lessons incorporate art references from diverse cultures, historical periods, and lifestyles and I aim to connect students of all ages to our shared humanity. Not only do I educate students in a wide range of artistic mediums and techniques, but I also teach my students to use art as a mode of self-expression, an access point for joy, connection, and healing, and as a language to express themselves (and understand others), when words aren’t enough.
Born in Upstate New York, I am a lover of Fall and mountain lakes, maple trees, and apple cider donuts. Through the journey of life, I’ve called many places home: Upstate New York, North Carolina, Virginia, Queens, Brooklyn, Los Angeles, and now Phoenix, Arizona. I love to read and learn new things. I’m constantly making something: art, food, crafts, experiences, parties, planters, you name it! I enjoy yoga, biking, hiking, and spending time with my husband, two kids, and two dogs.