Profile
Educator, maker, and designer with a healthy habit of getting my hands dirty. Over two decades in the classroom with teaching and learning focus areas in photography, student journalism, ceramics, communications, design, and media literacy, along with occasional forays into drawing, painting, and student affairs. Great appreciation for high say-do ratios, strong ledes, the Oxford comma, and servant leadership.
Teaching Experience
2018 – Present
Photography, Media Arts Teacher / Yearbook & Newspaper Adviser
Strath Haven High School / Wallingford, PA
Re-invigorating photography and video program at state- and nationally-ranked public high school. Courses include Graphic Design I, Visual Communications, Digital Photography I-II, and Video Production. Designed new courses and aligned curriculum to standards of Visual Art department. Supporting students as creative photographers, photojournalists and news and documentary producers, while also coaching college-bound students on portfolio development. Students regularly participate in regional, state, and national contests and shows. Advising club-based yearbook (2020) and newspaper (2022) programs.
2012-2018
Journalism Teacher, Adviser
Malvern Preparatory School / Malvern, PA
In five years, coached extracurricular newspaper from occasional publication in print only, with less than ten staff members, up to a thriving monthly print and online publication with 35+ on staff. Designed elective Journalism and Media Literacy class for seniors, and doubled enrollment after first year, with first-time writers contributing award-winning features for publication. Collaborated with student editors to create staff manual and all staff policies.
2007-2018
Art Teacher
Malvern Preparatory School / Malvern, PA
Courses included high school Ceramics I-IV, Graphic Design I-II, and Journalism. Initiated and facilitated Empty Bowls event, raising $100,000+ over nine years in support of Philadelphia’s homeless community. Established National Art Honor Society chapter.
2014-2015
Ceramics Instructor
Interlochen Center for the Arts / Interlochen, MI
Taught ceramics to high school and middle school students at world-class educational and cultural center. Managed studio inventory and materials usage.
2013
Studio Art Instructor
Blue Ridge Summer Institute for Young Artists (BLUR) / Sweet Briar College, Sweet Briar, VA
Provided structure for college-level courses in visual art, integrated collaboratively with courses in creative writing and theatre. Designed curriculum and implemented student performances and exhibitions.
2008-2013
Ceramics Instructor
Delaware Art Museum / Wilmington, DE
Taught ceramics classes for students ages 6-12 during summers and to adult learners in fall and spring terms.
2004-2007
Art Teacher
Pitman High School / Pitman, NJ
Courses included inclusive 9th-12th grade classes in Ceramics I & II, Computer Art, Art I & II, and Art Major I. Co-curricular activities included Literary Magazine, National Art Honor Society, a student-led adult ceramics class, and two Empty Bowls events.
Student Affairs Experience
2011-2012
Director of Student Services
Blue Ridge Summer Institute for Young Artists (BLUR) / Sweet Briar College, Sweet Briar, VA
Alongside a team of colleagues, piloted a successful three-week summer arts program for high school students based on an interdisciplinary model. Designed from scratch and implemented all co-curricular programming, including residence life.
1997-2007
Director of Residence Life
Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts / Erie, PA
Coordinated all student services for state-funded five-week residential summer program for 200 high school students. Responsibilities included staff selection, training, and supervision; housing assignments and facilities management for student and faculty housing; 24-hour on-call emergency response; parent communication; and administrative support.
2001-2004
Assistant Director of Residence Life
Maryland Institute College of Art
Implemented vision, programming, security, and day-to-day operations of a 202-bed upper-division student residence hall and student center for the entire campus. Coordinated student staff selection and training, move-in, orientation, and educational programming designed to meet the developmental needs of a unique student population.
2000-2001
Student Services Coordinator
South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts / Greenville, SC
Provided supervision, counseling, and intervention at ten-month, state-funded residential secondary school for students gifted in the creative and performing arts.
Education & Certifications
Master of Arts, Teaching
The University of the Arts
Philadelphia, PA
GPA 4.00 / 4.00
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Saint Vincent College
Latrobe, PA
GPA 3.89 / 4.00
Drawing & Painting Concentration
Pennsylvania Instructional II Certification
K-12 Art
7-12 English
Certified Journalism Educator (CJE)
Journalism Education Association
Pennsylvania Journalism Teacher of the Year, 2017
Journalism Education Association Rising Star, 2017
Columbia Scholastic Press Association Special Recognition Adviser, 2018
Board Member, Pennsylvania School Press Association, 2014-present
Academy of Scholastic Broadcasting
Summer 2019
Selected Publications & Presentations
EXTRAORDINARY STORIES
Published in Communications: Journalism Education Today (JEA Magazine) – Winter 2023
Profile of veteran journalism adviser Phillip Caston. LINK
PHOTOGRAPHING INTERESTING PEOPLE IN YOUR COMMUNITY: A GUIDE TO TAKING PORTRAITS
Lesson Plan, New York Times Learning – January 4, 2022
Collaborated with another photography teacher and a NYT editor to produce an extended lesson plan about environmental portraits. Published at nytimes.com
OUTSOURCED: JOURNALISM BEYOND THE J-CLASS
Presentation – November 2019
National High School Journalism Convention • Washington D.C.
Collaborated with former student editor to share the value of journalism education beyond high school journalism programs, and to strategize on ways to integrate journalism and media literacy across the curriculum. LINK
SURVEY AS TEAMBUILDER
Published in Dow Jones Adviser Update, Fall 2017
Article described how our journalism staff’s back-to-school survey functions as staff teambuilding and development. LINK
FROM EXTRACURRICULAR TO EXTRAORDINARY
Presentation – November 2016, April 2017
Columbia Scholastic Press Association • Columbia University
National High School Journalism Convention • Seattle, WA
Collaborated with students to share strategies for building a journalism program and staff development without dedicated class time. LINK
HOW TO GET SOCIAL WITH YOUR MEDIA
Presentation – November 2015
National High School Journalism Convention • Orlando, FL
Collaborated with student editors to share how a publication with a small staff developed and learned to manage social media presence on multiple platforms. LINK
MUD, MEANING, AND THE MOUSE
Presentation – March 2013
National Council for Education in the Ceramic Arts • Houston, TX
Presentation explored meaningful ways in which technology can enhance ceramics education. LINK
CONTRIBUTOR, TEACHING ARTIST JOURNAL
April – December 2013
ALT/space was a project of the Teaching Artist Journal, a peer reviewed print and online quarterly that serves as a voice, forum and resource for teaching artists and all those working at the intersection of art and learning.Essays explored the importance of hands-on learning. LINKS
Select Recognition
Special Recognition Adviser
Rising Star
Pennsylvania Journalism Teacher of the Year
Student and Publication Recognition
Skills & Interests
Technology Skills
Fluent and able to teach:
Macintosh + PC OS
Adobe Creative Suite
- Photoshop
- Illustrator
- InDesign
- Acrobat
- Premiere
- Lightroom
- Spark
FinalCut Pro
Microsoft Office
Google Apps + Analytics
WordPress, Wix, Weebly
Digital Photography + Video
Social Media Tools
- Tumblr
- Flickr
- Adobe Spark
- YouTube
- Periscope
- Snapchat
- Issuu
- Skype
Learning to podcast
Interests
Freelance graphic designer + social media manager + obituaries clerk
Blogger
Hiker
Photographer