““There is only one way to see things until someone shows us how to look at them with different eyes.”
- Pablo Picasso”
Arts Educator & Teaching Artist
My Teaching Philosophy
For the past 18 years I have been an arts educator and teaching artist. My teaching philosophy is rooted in using the performing arts as an access point and platform for equality, investigation, connection, reflection, discourse and expression for all. I have spent the majority of my career working with at-risk populations and the neurodiverse community.
A mentor once told me that special education. “is just good teaching.” This is what inspires and drives all of my work. I approach my students as if every one of them has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) because we all learn differently. I focus on using multiple intelligences as one of the many entry points into differentiating instruction for students of all abilities.
As an educator, I combine my experience as a teaching artist, a classroom teacher, a curriculum developer, and as an arts inclusion specialist to collaborate with staff and families to create sustainable open communication in order to best serve the student(s). My areas of expertise afford me opportunities to share feedback, model best practices and mentor educators, artists, and administrators on how to effectively differentiate instruction through arts integration into current curriculum or through the craft of the performing arts.
High school students from a NYC public school collaborate to devising an original theatre piece inspired by Moliere’s The Misanthrope.
Who
AGES: Preschool through adult: students, teachers, life-long learners, artists, actors, dancers, administrators, families, siblings, faculty, staff, creative teams, adults, children, donors, graduate students, college students, board members.
Sign showing rules, tools and signed participation contracts from NYC public school Kindergarten 12 week residency.
What
AREAS OF EXPERTISE: Musical theatre, acting, playwriting, devising original works, adapting literature to stage, Shakespeare, character development, choreography, monologues, scene study, character study, planning curriculum for non-traditional settings, teaching and planning for neurodiverse populations.
NYC Elementary school students attending Disney’s The Jungle Book KIDS performed and directed by fellow students & staff as part of Disney Musicals in Schools residency program.
Where
SETTINGS: After school programming, in-school residencies, community centers, high schools, middle schools, elementary schools, public schools, independent schools, recreation programs, adult programs, elderly programs, literacy programs, early childhood programs, summer programs, day/week/month long intensives, rehabilitation facilities, graduate programs and universities.
Erin teaching a high school residency workshop in Steamboat Springs, CO as part of The American Place Theatre’s National Tour of “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien.
How
ARTS EDUCATOR & TEACHING ARTIST SERVICES: Professional development creation and facilitation using theatre arts as an entry point to access objective, theatre curriculum development, theatre arts program development and implementation, theatre arts integration into Common Core State Standards, English and literature curriculum enhancement, theatre arts integration into all Common Core subjects, theatre arts program management, choreography, production support, pre-show and post-show talkback creation and facilitation, personal coaching
“My role as the lead neurodiversity specialist in various organizations has provided me with the opportunity to visit and educate students in a variety of settings. ”
Current & previous theatre company, arts organization & service organization affiliations:
GREATER BOSTON: Greater Boston Stage Company, Christmas Celtic Sojourn, Massachusetts Cultural Council, ArtsEmerson, Huntington Theatre Company, The Spotlight Program at The Northeast Arc, Topf Center for Dance Education, Concord Youth Theatre, Pioneer Valley School for the Arts, Boston Public Schools, Brookwood School, The Girls Scouts of America.
NEW YORK CITY & BEYOND: Purchase College, City College New York, New York University, New York City Public Schools, New York City Public Schools- District 75, Disney Theatrical Group, Manhattan New Music Project, The American Place Theatre (NYC, Denver, CO, Asheville, NC, Steamboat Springs, CO, Ramapo NJ, Greenville, SC, Clinton Township, MI, Portland, ME), Urban Arts Partnership- Everyday Arts for Special Education (EASE), DreamYard Project, Periwinkle Theatre Company, Brooklyn Arts Exchange, Theatre Development Fund (TDF), Americans for the Arts, Teaching Artist Affairs Committee, AATE National Conference, Teaching Artist Training Institute at Marquis Studios, Roundtable Arts in Education Face to Face Conference, Arts for All Abilities Consortium, The Center for Arts Education, Park Avenue Armory, The Women’s Project, Talent Unlimited High School, The Earth School.