Favorite quotes...
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi “Find something you're passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it.” ― Julia Child “I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration, I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a person is humanized or de-humanized. If we treat people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming.” ― Haim G. Ginott, Teacher and Child: A Book for Parents and Teachers "The arts inform as well as stimulate; they challenge as well as satisfy. Their location is not limited to galleries, concert halls and theatres. Their home can be found wherever humans chose to have attentive and vita intercourse with life itself. " -Elliot W. Eisner "In many respects, teaching and learning are matters of breaking through barriers—of expectation, of boredom, of predefinition". -from 'Releasing the Imagination' by Maxine Greene “That some achieve great success, is proof to all that others can achieve it as well.” ― Abraham Lincoln "Creativity now is as important in education as literacy, and we should treat it with the same status." -Sir Ken Robinson "Make it work!" - Tim Gunn |
I am a California native and have lived in Napa most of my life. I received my undergraduate degree and my teaching credential from Sonoma State University. This will be my 7th year teaching at Harvest Middle School.
My own personal journey with art began at early age, and over the years transformed from an interest to a passion. At some point in high school I came to the realization that art did something for me that none of the other subjects I was studying could do. It gave me confidence and challenged me, in ways that a textbook never could. Everyone in class may have been given the same problem to solve, but I soon realized their were many solutions, and many paths to take to get to the end result. While in college, I was incredibly fortunate to be able to work with some incredible teachers, whom became my mentors and my inspiration to move forward with my career in the arts and teaching. The path I took was long, with some bumps in the road, and a few detours, but I eventually reached my goal. Many people tell me I have a dream job, and in many ways, they're right. What could be better than helping guide students through a journey where they are able to find qualities and strengths they never knew existed, while inspiring students to use their creativity and critical thinking skills to help support them in all areas of their lives? I am a practicing artist, with experienced in a wide variety of mediums ranging from painting, drawing and collage to ceramic sculpture and artwork created from found objects. I am an eternal student, always in search of new and exciting ways of sharing the world of art. I also enjoy the ocean, gardening, cooking, photography, travel and spending time with my beautiful nieces and nephew. One of my most memorable experiences was a trip to India, where I visited an orphanage and helped build a playground and paint a mural for the children. I have two gorgeous pups that keep me busy when I'm not at school. They are a couple of clowns, always entertaining. Favorite coffee spot: Ritual Coffee Roasters or Dutch Brothers Favorite foods: sushi, anything Italian,Indian or vegetarian Favorite place I've visited: India (New Orleans, Louisiana and Italy would come in second) Favorite Spot to see ART in Napa: di Rosa Preserve Favorite Artists: Frida Kahlo, Vincent Van Gogh...and many others Favorite Books: The Tao of Pooh and the Harry Potter Series Favorite season: Fall (loves the colors (and my birthday is during Fall Most Inspirational young person: Malala Yousafzai |