A Very Brief Professional History

A Very Brief Professional History:

After attending Lamar Middle School and Marcus High School (class of 1999), I studied Discipline Based Art Education (DBAE) at the University of North Texas (class of 2004). My first teaching position was in Aldine ISD at Caraway Intermediate, located in North Houston, Texas, where I was the fifth grade art teacher. After my daughter was born, we moved back to North Texas, and I began teaching at Vickery Elementary in 2007. Discipline Based Art Education was heavily influential on my teaching philosophy, however as the years went by, I felt it was not meeting the needs of each of my unique students.

In 2011, a friend was working on her Master's in Art Education, and told me about Choice-Based Art Education. Though I was skeptical at first, I was very curious to learn more, and as I read the book "Engaging Learners Through Artmaking:  Choice-Based Art Education in the Classroom" by Douglass and Jaquith, I began to think critically about the experience children need in the art room.  I knew then that wanted my students to move beyond following directions on step-by-step teacher projects to become independent young artists.  The transition has not been easy; at first I had little information about the philosophy, and no direct support, though through it all I have had faith that the practice of 'Teaching for Artistic Behavior (TAB)' is best for all children.