Why I Teach art?

In the army I had a passion for art. I worked murals, and did helicopter nose art. I was also a sergeant in the army, teaching aviation maintenance practices and airfield safety, and basic first aide, in addition to basic soldier skills.

Coming home from Afghanistan, I found a passion for the arts as I dealt with PTSD issues, and anxiety dealing with the complex civilian world. The Veterans Affairs asked me, “ Why all the art classes?” I say to the representative, “ Art is healing…”

I employ art therapy practices in my art lessons and work with the basics of the elements of art and principles of design in engaging art lessons. Some of these kids truly need the help and outlet of the arts, and I see they find healing in art much as I have with my PTSD and Anxiety issues. It also helps with my periods of deep depression I experience.

I teach art to help spread the sense of healing in the arts. People need a creative outlet, and it is an important part of our visual language. It is a coping mechanism and outlet of communication for things we can’t express in words sometimes.

Here at Mesa Linda Middle School, I would like to provide a safe environment for artists to create and develop skills as young artists, while keeping the street violence and dangers outside. Students have a safe space within my classroom, with an inclusive attitude of a shared humanity. In the military we were all one people, wearing the same uniform, and I keep this in mind as students call each other the most vile of things.

Promoting a shared humanity, inclusivity, and safety above all else is crucial for my learning environment. I coach these students in acceptance of others, showing the artistic skill and accomplishments of a wide array of humanity of all colors, makes, and models. I teach art to showcase the talent of the vast and diverse human culture this world has to offer.

Professional Growth Goals:

My Professional Growth Goals this next year will be to continue the practice of art as a healing mechanism and outlet for expression, in addition to working on firmer classroom management. I will focus on what I can control within my environment and hope for the best out in the schoolyard.

I will be working on an MFA in Arts Education with Azusa Pacific University in the fall of 2023. I will be doing this to further my own education. I am working on CSTP Goals of Improving the Student Learning Environment, and Providing Structured Classroom Management with Incentives for good behavior.

“Creating and Maintaining Effective Environments for Student Learning” has been a constant struggle at this Middle School, but the students need incentives to behave better, and the students need structure and constancy in their environment for their success.

My areas of strength this year have been my ability to foster engaging art lessons and projects to gain student focus and attention in a positive direction. I have also implemented a strict roster of classroom rules to maintain order in the learning environment. Weaknesses have been environmental, that which cannot be controlled outside my classroom.

The constant violence, racism, tardiness, absences, and cutting of classes can only be disciplined so far on my end as I email home, work with the administration, and the counselors. Student success often times comes down to the will of the student.

What am I most proud of in my teaching profession? I am proud of the sense of community I have fostered as the art teacher, and soccer coach at Mesa Linda Middle School. I am proud that my classroom environment is at least a calm and peaceful environment compared to the outside schoolyard and street environment here in Victorville, CA. This can be a rough area to grow up in, and I pride myself on providing a stable environment for students to create and display their art.