Kickstart My Art

Thanks for checking out my page! I have been teaching art and graphic design to 6th, 7th, and 8th graders for over 10 years. My classroom experience includes the use of a wide variety of art mediums; not only do we explore the more "common" materials such as paint, clay, and metal, but we also dabble quite a bit in digital art and photography.

My role in the classroom is primarily that of a facilitator. Classroom activities, discussions, and projects are designed to engage students and pique their interest, but once they understand the objectives I really enjoy "setting them free" and seeing where their creativity will take them!

My "shining teacher moment" cannot be pinpointed to just one specific moment in time. It is instead made up of several brief moments that have left a lasting impression on me as an educator. Some examples: having a former student come back to tell me that she is pursuing a career in graphic design because of my class; hearing a student tell me that he took it upon himself to learn more about Frida Kahlo because he found our class discussion about her so interesting; and finally, hearing students frequently say that art class is the "best part of their entire day". These are the shining moments that regularly brighten my week and remind me why I chose to become a teacher in the first place.

I have a Master of Arts in Teaching from Monmouth University, as well as several digital art certifications.

In my spare time I enjoy traveling, spending time with my family, and just chilling :-)