Experience+Philosophy+Achievments

Experience: B.A. in History and in Art; currently pursuing a M. Ed., fifteen years of experience teaching all levels from K-12 as well as adults; 25 years as a freelance artist working in a wide variety of disciplines and media Philosophy: It is currently my philosophy of education that good teaching begins with classroom management based on the concept of mutual trust between teachers and students as well as among students, deemphasizing any element of fear in the classroom environment. It is my belief that the creation of such a secure, trusting atmosphere in the class is essential to the creation of an environment in which both teachers and students can freely take risks, expose their real thoughts and feelings, and develop the open state of mind necessary for true learning to take place. Once this state of comfort and trust is reached, both student and teacher are then free to build understanding based on their own individual style and ability, without fear of ridicule or discouragement. By changing the face of education to that of accepting, friendly openness, participants can more easily discard inner barriers and resistance to education and embrace it for its benefits, both short and long term. Achievements: In addition to my educational experience, both as a teacher and a learner, and my private artistic successes, I feel that the achievements most worthy of mention are those which feature group efforts by my students and myself in creating large scale works of art in the form of murals and theatrical productions, of which I have been fortunate enough to create over 100 of each.