My teaching philosophy is not centered around actually teaching more then it does learning in the non-traditional sense. Centering student learning and co-collaborative spaces is an approach that celebrates diversity and culture of the learner. Learning is meant to be a grounding activity that allows students to flourish in all aspects of their identity. For me, as a facilitator in a learning space, the greatest reward and measure of success is creating community which engenders new knowledge created by students.

As an artist and educator, I strive to create a collaborative learning space where students feel a sense of belonging and nurturing. I create a space where student knowledge, skills, and passions are centered to connect to the lesson. In a world saturated with content, specifically accessible educational content, I work towards creating a community within the classroom that celebrates student cultural wealth and engenders an ethos of empathy. To create this space, it aim to integrate students’ personal learning objectives to the curriculum through conversation and collaborative practices.  

As a proponent of the Universal Learning design, I provide accessible content to students. Learning should be equitable and accessible, which is why I believe that it is important to supplement and diversify material for different learning styles. In addition, I give a survey to students to learn about who they are and what they need to be successful in my course and the real world. I do this in several ways. I ensure that the material provided is culturally responsive. Students have different options for completing certain assignments. Ultimately, the outcome for each class is that students have material for their portfolios. 

I approach creative learning where students are equipped with the practical knowledge of the tools they use coupled with critical media theory and literacy so that students do not acculturate but rather investigate and develop their ideas. Having built a foundation for knowledge creation, students are empowered to create through a cultural wealth of knowledge practice. 

Overall, I find that a learning space should generate confidence to be curious and create. Creating a space where students can feel safe while exploring new terrain, both in and out of the classroom (visiting museums, art galleries, and studios), is needed as student identities evolve with their learning.