Mountain View Montessori School, Reno, Nevada

Middle School Teacher, 7th and 8th Grade
2018 - Present

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Math and Interdisciplinary Math Projects Teacher

2020 - Present

• 8th Grade Math​

• Math Project Period

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Art Teacher

2018; 2020 - Present

Created unique curriculum for an open “Studio Workshop” in printmaking where 7th and 8th grade students chose their own work, drawing on techniques from Choice-Based Art, Teaching for Artistic Behavior (TAB), and Montessori theories of education.

• • Motivated students to create original artwork by presenting open-ended art projects, individualizing instruction, and integrating lessons in creative thinking and problem solving.

  • Authored original reference book for class, with printmaking techniques, fifteen detailed lesson plans, project samples, and examples from contemporary and historical artists.

  • Maintained records of individual student progress and provided reports to supervisors.

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Project-Based Service Learning Guide

2019 - Present

• • In 2019-20, lead 7th and 8th grade students as a Community Outreach Specialist.

 

Faculty & Staff Training

• • Designed and prepared open-ended, process-based art training curriculum, and presented training to all faculty and staff at Mountain View Montessori.

  • Developed projects that are accessible and engaging to a wide age range, from toddlers through middle school students and adults.

  • Prepared visual aids with samples from children, contemporary and historical artists. 

  • Authored and designed a reference handbook of process-based art projects.

Mountain View Montessori School, Reno, Nevada

Artist and Teaching Artist

2016 - 2020

• Create and prepare open-ended art projects for 3- to 6-year-old students for school fundraising efforts, including working with small groups of students to create artwork and combining students’ individual artwork into larger pieces.

  • Assist in the planning, organization, and execution of school-wide student art shows.

  • Painted large-scale wall hangings for annual fundraising event.

 

Sierra Arts Foundation, Reno, Nevada

Teaching Artist

2019

Teaching Artist in Arts Advocacy program, Turning Point Middle School and EnCompass Academy High School. 

 

Artown

Developed and prepared open-ended art activities for 6- to 12-year-old children.

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  • Ensured that art activities meaningfully related to a different form of art, such as music or dance, that was presented as part of Discover the Arts during Artown. 

  • Introduced groups of 60+ children to new concepts in art and led a related art activity.

  • Created visual aids explaining art concept and samples of art activity. 

  • Teaching A

 

Artist, Paintings and Mixed Media Drawings

Reno, Nevada

2001 - Present

 

• • Currently working on painting series of children in self-made costumes, exploring personal identity as well as the freedom and seriousness of creative play. Acrylic on canvas.

  • Selected group exhibitions: Trigger, 2016; Hot One Inch Action, 2014, 2015, 2016; 1984+20 Civil Liberties Show, 2005.

 

Graphic Designer and Communications Coordinator

2012 - PresentFreelance, Reno, Nevada

 

• Create compelling and professional graphic design and web design, including logos, promotional materials, billboards, and websites, especially for small local businesses.

• Coordinate publicity for events, including press releases, designing and distributing event materials, and social media publicity.

 

 

2005 - 2015

Communications Director

American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada, Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada

 

• • Responsible for all aspects of communications for a statewide nonprofit organization, including strategic communications, media relations, social media, electronic and print communication, web design and development, and graphic design.

  • Organized civil liberties-themed art shows held at McKinley Arts & Culture Center in 2005 and at the First United Methodist Church and UNR in 2006 as part of Artown. 

  • Spoke to local high schools about students rights and the work of the ACLU.

  • Established student internship program, and managed five interns each semester.

  • Coordinated efforts between the national ACLU, state and local staff, statewide board of directors, interns, and volunteers, as well as other national, state, and local organizations. 

  • Trained all staff and volunteers on effective communications strategies and tools.

  • Effectively communicated complex, legal information to lay audiences.

 

 

EDUCATION

2019 - Present

Master of Arts in Teaching degree candidate

Sierra Nevada College, Reno, Nevada

• Pursuing Elementary Education licensure

 

2001 - 2005

Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude

Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio

 

• • Majors: Psychology and Philosophy     •   Minor: Mathematics

  • Phi Beta Kappa (Alpha of Ohio)     •   Adelbert-Squire Full Tuition Scholarship

  • College Scholars Program      •   Golden Key Honor Society

  • Founder and President of the American Civil Liberties Union Campus Group.

  • Led student recycling campaign. Wrote grants for LEED-certified residence hall.

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Semester Abroad: University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland

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CERTIFICATIONS

• Qualifying Praxis II Exams

  • Art: Content and Analysis​

• First Aid & CPR Certified (2020)​

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PROGRAMS AND TECH

Education: Google Classrooms, ActivInspire

Microsoft Office Suite: Teams, Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint, Access (building relational databases).

Google Drive: Docs, Sheets, Forms. iWork

Office Suite: Pages, Numbers, Keynote. 

Adobe: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat.

Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

Web: Content Management Systems (CMS), Drupal, Wordpress, CSS, HTML, MySQL, Search Engine Optimization.