Teaching Bio
I believe that everyone has a creative side, and it’s my passion to help students discover and develop theirs. In my classroom, art is a vehicle for emotional expression, personal discovery, and critical life skills like problem-solving, resilience, and reflection. Especially in today’s world, students need safe and supportive spaces to explore who they are, manage stress, and communicate their experiences. I strive to make my classroom that space.
I began my career in graphic design after graduating from Western Kentucky University in 2017, but I quickly realized how much I missed the classroom. Using art to help support and educate others is where my heart is. One of my favorite aspects of teaching is being able to watch my students grow into more confident and expressive versions of themselves in and out of the classroom. My practice is rooted in student-centered learning, emotional literacy, and the belief that art helps people better understand themselves and the world around them, making connections.
The curriculum in my class begins with the foundational skills following the elements of art with focuses on building self-awareness and creative exploration. Each project scaffolds and attends to the students needs in order to build confidence, success, and enhance their inner voice. Regardless of the project, I include social-emotional learning into the process using reflective prompts, class discussions, and storytelling. Art is a language that students are able to use to express and process their emotions, explore their identities, and have their voice be heard. My goal is for students to leave my class with not only a strong portfolio but also a deep understanding of themselves and how creativity can be used throughout their lives.
Graphic Design CTE Program
The Media Arts: Graphic Design Career and Technical Education (CTE) course was built entirely from the ground up this past year. With no predecessor to guide me, I designed every unit, project, and assessment from scratch. Grounded in both my industry experience and my passion for teaching, the program offers a rigorous, hands-on exploration of design that is relevant, reflective, and empowering.
Students begin the year learning foundational design skills: file types, resolution, raster vs. vector graphics, and digital organization. They build comfort in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator through scaffolded projects that explore shape, layout, photo manipulation, and collage. As we move through the year, students are introduced to photography and camera functions, learning about aperture, ISO, white balance, shutter speed, lighting, and green screen technology. These technical foundations set the stage for more advanced work—especially in identity design and community-centered projects that follow.
