After a fairly conventional educational experience leading up to college, I attended UCLA. I earned my undergraduate degree in Art History. When I chose teaching as a profession I received my teaching credential from Cal State LA. Given all that, I would venture to say that my education on education has been gathered almost entirely outside of those two institutions.
When it comes to education, I would consider myself extremely progressive. I believe that the educational system as it stands today is not only inadequate, as most would tend to agree, but completely ill-conceived. I believe that radical changes must be made not only to the “how” of teaching, but also the “what.” I believe that the best way to learn is through the act of creation – getting your hands dirty. And I don’t think today’s children have enough dirt on their hands. I believe that knowledge at any age is gained through a complex chemical reaction that happens when desire and interest meet self-discipline. I believe there are innumerable ways to reach an understanding of a given “truth,” and each “truth” held within is personalized and connected to a vast network of facts and knowledge gained through experience in life. I believe in pushing past levels of comfort and confidence in order to establish new levels of comfort and confidence. I believe it is my job to magically make all this happen while laughing and dancing.
I am happiest during the act of creation so most of my interests relate to the arts in some way. I can lose whole days to painting, drawing, printmaking and creating various odds and ends that somehow make total sense inside my head (although may seem strange outside of it). I dance as often as possible and enjoy the process of developing choreography. I love to write when thoughts flow freely, and despise the times when they don’t.
