Where Have I Been and Where Am I Going?

09/13/20

I began my teaching journey in high school when I participated in a Career Capstone course. I was able to aide in 3 different school districts and 5 different art classrooms between those districts. I knew from that moment on that art education was my place to be! Progressing onward through my first few years at the University of Wisconsin Stout in the Art Education program only solidified this ideal. I began to develop my own pedagogy and really understand where my values lay as an educator. Some of my favorite courses while attending the UW Stout have been my Art Education specific courses where I have had the opportunity to grow into my own educator. My continued professional development has also helped to shape me in the varying trends of educations and which theories I choose to employ in my own classroom. My hope is to be a continued member in the Art Education community through the WAEA and NAEA conferences. There is always so many knowledgable educators available that I had never met. University has forced me to accept the many differing points of view within education while also maintaining my own opinions and goals. For example, learning more about the TAB style of teaching and employing this style in the right setting could be a beneficial place for students to have exploration within the arts. I attended a WAEA session regarding TAB set up and classroom organization techniques. Having the opportunity to explore more of the specifics of this form of teaching the arts is something I appreciate! I love learning and it is something I hope to always have a passion for.