I taught art in elementary, high school and college classrooms since 2009. Prior to my classroom teaching experience, I designed and led art therapy and coping skills groups to brain injured adults and troubled youth. I have extensive experience in Psychology and Neuroscience with a firm understanding of child development as well as brain mechanisms conducive to learning. Currently, I supervise Ar
t Ed student teachers in their field placement at Kutztown University. I hold the following teaching certifications under my current and valid PA teaching license:
Art Content Knowledge K-12
Fundamental Content Knowledge K-12
Exceptional Children K-12
Language Arts 6-12
Outside of the classroom, I helped create and install a mural at Reading Hospital. I was an art director and set designer for four school musicals, two of which won Freddy awards. I have an advanced certification from Wilton for cake decorating coursework completed. I presented my research on creative thinking at both local and international conferences and was references in a book Runaway Species by renowned Neuroscientist David Eagleman (who also mentioned me in his TED talk). All of this experience in psychology, neuroscience, biobehavioral health, education and art education have allowed me to design lessons that can enhance creative thinking, promote artistic growth and increase self-efficacy. But honestly, sometimes, you just want to have fun, drink wine or a cold beer, and create something awesome.