Teaching Philosophy

As a white educator and writer, I take seriously the responsibility to interrogate my own privileges that have allowed me the educational and life opportunities I’ve experienced, and to actively work towards dismantling the oppressive legacy that racism and capitalism exert on educational institutions.

As a disabled and chronically ill person, I am committed to supporting and advocating for accessibile learning opportunities, and understand accessibility is a broad term that may encompass many different, and sometimes competing, needs. I am always excited to work with students and institutions to develop the most widely-accessible programming for folks who exist outside of the neurotypical/able-bodied/sighted/hearing/sane paradigm (that’s most people!).

I have taught a variety of mediums in a variety of settings to folks ages 0 through older adulthood. I approach students in all environments with the same fundamental principles and goals:

I understand the classroom to be a microcosm of how we approach ourselves and the world around us; I believe education is a human right; I aim to see each student as an individual with unique strengths and learning styles; and I trust in the power of the arts to support full-person growth and provide tools for critical analysis of the self and the greater world.

I believe the teacher’s most important role – even before providing subject-specific instruction – is to create and foster an environment where students feel safe to be themselves, take intellectual and creative risks, and cultivate a sense of responsibility to the culture of the class and their relationship to their classmates.

Select Teaching Experience

Poetry Workshops

Hugo House (2024-25) - Yearlong Advanced Poetry Workshop - 30 sessions

Hugo House (October 2024) - Erasure is for Everyone - 6 sessions

Poetry Foundation (October 2024) - Where What Why: Contemporary Poetry and Disappearing Forms - 1 session

Hugo House (March 2023) - Reading and Writing with CA Conrad - 1 session

Hugo House (November 2022) - Ekphrastic Poetry with Rachel Mannheimer’s "Earth Room” - 1 session

Tupelo Press (October 2022) - On Erasure - 1 session

Poetry Foundation (2022) - On Erasure - 1 session

Hugo House (2022) - Contemporary Poetry for People who don’t “Get” Poetry (but want to!) - 6 sessions

Hugo House (2021) - On Erasure - 2 sessions

Justice Arts Coalition (2020) - Community Workshop - 1 session

Writing Instructor, Institute for Justice and Opportunity

Provide academic and professional writing instruction to justice-involved students enrolled in a wraparound professional certification + college level course. Curriculum includes workshops on study skills, incorporating citations into essays, and human services trade-specific writing skills such as writing case notes and referral letters.

Undergraduate Creative Writing Teacher, New York University

Designed and taught 4-credit introductory-level creative writing course to undergraduate students at NYU. Students read contemporary fiction and poetry, workshopped their own creative pieces, and engaged in multi-genre arts activities.

Workshop Fellow, Veteran Writers Workshop, New York University

Facilitated free weekly writing workshop for veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Youth Writing Mentor, 826 Michigan and 826 NYC

Assisted middle school students with writing assignments; supported teachers in delivering lesson plans; evaluated student work.

Yoga Teacher, MetroRock Climbing Gym, Brooklyn

Creative Writing Workshop Facilitator, Cooper Street Correctional Facility, Jackson, MI

Facilitated weekly writing workshops in prose and poetry (including designing writing curriculum and prompts) with men incarcerated at a state correctional facility; designed and printed creative writing anthologies of workshop writing.

Teaching and Program Intern, The Meridian School, Seattle

Assisted teachers in independent K-5 school; substitute taught; provided one-on-one student support; served on Equity and Inclusion Committee; assisted with administrative tasks.

Yoga Teacher, Echo Glen Children’s Center, Snoqualmie, WA

Taught weekly yoga class to incarcerated youth ages 10-17 through Seattle-based non-profit Yoga Behind Bars.

Youth Mentor, Seattle International Film Festival Summer Camp, Seattle

Taught basic film-making principles; facilitated youth ages 8-14 in creating short films.

Teacher, Jewish Cultural Society, Ann Arbor

Taught Sunday School to youth ages 4-8; developed curriculum in secular Jewish culture and values; created developmentally appropriate lesson plans; organized field trips and creative learning activities; communicated with parents.