Teaching Philosophy
The choices we made yesterday create the world we live in today.
We now live the product of the many decisions made over years of choices,
and the path we follow today is a result of a choice made yesterday."
Louis E. Catron
My goal as a teacher is to share my passion for theatre and knowledge of this great art form. I want to encourage students to think critically, to become socially aware and responsible, to engage and discover the world around them, and to work hard and hold themselves accountable. It is an honor and privilege to support and guide students in their endeavors and in pursuit of their dreams.
I believe that teaching combines knowledge, passion, skill, patience, enthusiasm, compassion and room for growth. In my classes, students walk away from my classes with a better sense of:
Awareness.
Be where you are.
Know your boundaries, set a standard of excellence for your craft and then:
Effectively communicate in a style that is uniquely you.
Resourcefulness.
I am committed to cultivating an inclusive and equitable classroom environment. Together, I work with my students to create an atmosphere where:
I am dedicated to fostering the talent, minds, and spirits of students in an effort to not only better them as artists, but also as people. It is my ambition to help them develop cultural, social, leadership, and problem solving skills as well as strong and lasting academic abilities. While establishing a safe, creative, and nurturing learning environment, I set forth clear instructional goals through well-structured lessons. However, I am mindful to adjust lessons and teaching style for better student communication, understanding, classroom management, and student performance through a combination of observation skills and feedback.
I believe that teaching combines knowledge, passion, skill, patience, enthusiasm, compassion and room for growth. In my classes, students walk away from my classes with a better sense of:
Awareness.
- Know that you have a role in the history of mankind.
- Know that absolutely every decision you make and every word you utter to another human being makes an impact.
- Self-awareness amplifies your choices and opportunities.
Be where you are.
- Above all else, live your life.
- Have a conscious awareness of how much you can devote to a project.
- Keep your responsibilities in check.
- Embrace “mistakes” as positive journeys and discoveries that will lead you where you need to be.
Know your boundaries, set a standard of excellence for your craft and then:
- Know when to say no.
- Know when to say yes.
- Know when to step over the line and grow beyond those boundaries.
Effectively communicate in a style that is uniquely you.
- Even if what you have to say has been said before, it has not been said by you. This is what makes you special and your work, your contribution to the poetry of life, essential.
- Have the courage to write plays that show the world the way you see and experience it. You’re the only one who can do that, which makes you absolutely essential to the American Theatre.
Resourcefulness.
- Students will walk out of my class knowing interdisciplinary methods of research skills, being able to draw inspiration from a variety of resources methods including art, music, history, dreams, literature, theory, and other primary resources, will improve both their acting and their writing skills.
I am committed to cultivating an inclusive and equitable classroom environment. Together, I work with my students to create an atmosphere where:
- Everyone is valued, respected, and given the time they need to express themselves;
- Everyone is encouraged to keep open mind, challenge their assumptions, and actively listen;
- Everyone is allowed to make mistakes and ask questions in the spirit of cooperative learning;
- Everyone can work and learn in a brave and nurturing environment;
- Everyone can critically assess each other’s ideas while not engaging in personal attacks;
- Everyone is unique and no one will be expected to speak for a given group of people.
I am dedicated to fostering the talent, minds, and spirits of students in an effort to not only better them as artists, but also as people. It is my ambition to help them develop cultural, social, leadership, and problem solving skills as well as strong and lasting academic abilities. While establishing a safe, creative, and nurturing learning environment, I set forth clear instructional goals through well-structured lessons. However, I am mindful to adjust lessons and teaching style for better student communication, understanding, classroom management, and student performance through a combination of observation skills and feedback.