Hi! As a long-time fan of AOEU’s blog and podcasts, I am honored to be an AOEU K–12 Curriculum Designer. I’ve been teaching art and managing art education programs for 15 years in a variety of settings, including public schools in New York City and Los Angeles, private and small group lessons in Prague, and online courses. Prior to joining AOEU, I was teaching elementary art at two schools in Los Angeles County while also working with a team to develop arts assessment materials. My teaching experience includes working with all ages from TK through adults, in classrooms, community settings, afterschool programs, and on a cart. Since discovering Teaching for Artistic Behavior a few years ago, I have been moving along the choice spectrum, buoyed by seeing students’ deepened engagement and authentic voices.

I have also had the joy of working with fellow art educators to facilitate and lead professional development workshops. I spent six years in NYC managing art education programs and working with schools all over the city. My time on the admin side of arts non-profits instilled a love of spreadsheets and appreciation for the multitude of variables schools and teachers are balancing.

In addition to my work in art education, I am an artist and maintain an active studio practice. In my work, I seek the intersection between ecology, motherhood, and memory, often using unconventional materials that connect to childhood and “women’s work.” I feel lucky to share my garage studio with my daughter, whose color sense is a constant source of inspiration. I also founded and run Teaching Artist Podcast, where I interview visual artists who teach as a way to highlight those of us navigating these dual careers.  Between teaching, writing, curating, and artmaking, I carve out time for family beach days, picnics in the mountains, and low-key backyard playtime.

Professional Accomplishments:

• Tools for Tolerance® for Educators Anti-Bias Education — Certification/Training 2018
• “Creating a Fourth Culture.” In 20UNDER40: Re-Inventing the Arts and Arts Education for the 21st Century, edited by Eric P. Clapp, Dec 2010. — Publication
• MFA, Visual Arts, Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University in St. Louis, 2009
• BA, Studio Art & Geography, Middlebury College, 2004