My teaching philosophy

My primary goal is to teach individuals how to think critically, how to evaluate their world, and how to empower their own ideas with a strong, compassionate voice.  Students can expect me to provide a safe, respectful and authentic learning environment free from prejudice of any kind.  In return, I expect my students to take risks, work hard, have fun, and understand that education comes with a responsibility – a responsibility to their local and global communities. 

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Qualifications and Certifications
Master of Arts in Teaching
Lewis and Clark Graduate School of Ed, 2005

Bachelor of Arts: Film and Communications
Columbia College Chicago, 1995

Highly Qualified Teacher: Oregon
Certified: International Baccalaureate Org.
Certified: Professional Learning Communities
Certified: Career and Technical Education state of Oregon: Media Arts
Certified: AVID

On Being an Educator

At its core, teaching is about the love of learning and the strong desire for our students to achieve their goals.  The results of a teacher's successes are sometimes immediate, but are more often traveling in a well-worn backpack going off to college or work.  We may never know if the lessons we provide hit home, but we trust that the curiosity fostered today is embedded in the dreams realized tomorrow.   The goal, after all, is not to fill a pail, but to light a fire [with apologies to W.B.Yeats].

After ten years working in film and commercial media production, I became an educator.  The route to the classroom was circuitous with an almost embarrassingly clichéd goal: I want to help young people change the world.  I have the fortune and privilege of spending my days with teenagers who – unlike most grownups - are enthusiastic about the future and believe that most things are possible.

​I am a passionate and dedicated teacher of critical thinking with a focus on social justice.  My student-centered philosophy develops analytical thinkers, adroit speakers, and accomplished producers of many mediums.  As a teacher-researcher, I am continuously assessing my practice and instruction through data collection, evaluation, and collaboration with other educators.  At the heart of my teaching is giving voice to the student perspective.  A productive classroom is a haven for innovation, and I begin with these essential questions: where is the students’ truth; what motivates them to learn; and how will I embed my instruction with the students’ personal and cultural experience at its core.
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Oh, and I also really like words.  And reading.  And reading about words.  And language.  And art.  And the use of art and language shape perception.  And storytelling.  And making stories with digital media.   Wow!  How lucky am I to be a teacher?

photo credit for banner: Kayde Brook