Hello. My name is Kaitlyn Birdsall-Thomas, and I am excited to be part of your team. I am a Colorado State University Graduate with a Bachelor's of Art in Art History, a Bachelor's of Fine Art in Painting, and a Post Bachelor's in Art Education. After 4 years of teaching in a rural school, I went back for my Masters in Literacy Education through the UNC PSD Cohort. I will graduate with a Reading Teacher Endorsement in May of 2018.
I would not be the person I am today without the inspiring teachers who helped me through so many challenges. They shaped me and ultimately led me to want to become a teacher. While I have always enjoyed the creative arts, I used to struggle in school. These teachers pushed me when I said I couldn't go any further, put in additional time to teach in a way I could understand, and helped me overcome my learning difficulties. I hope that I can be that person to someone else.
For that reason, I have reached out to many struggling youth. I mentored a young woman through Campus Corps, where CSU students are paired with an at-risk youth to develop a relationship through tutoring, discussion, and activities. I sought an internship with TCAMP ( Transitional Creative Arts Mentoring Program), where I connected to students in the juvenile justice system and encouraged personal growth through art. After I had finished my painting and art history degree, I dedicated one year of my life to helping students in an at-risk school in Denver through tutoring and mentoring in an Americorps program called CITY YEAR.
After returning to Fort Collins and completing my Art Education licensure program at CSU, I began working at Prairie School as the sole art teacher for a K-12 school. I also taught 8th grade reading, gifted and talented, and took on any roles that would help support my students.
All students can use a creative arts program. It is important for personal discovery, the development of creative thinking and risk taking, communication, and therapy. I want to be the teacher that sees a student as a whole. Every child needs extra support at some point in their life.
I WANT TO INSPIRE YOUNG PEOPLE,
ENCOURAGE THEM TO GROW FURTHER THAN THEY THOUGHT POSSIBLE
TO TAKE RISKS AND THINK CREATIVELY
FOR THEM TO DEVELOP EMPATHY THROUGH SHARING AND UNDERSTANDING
AND DEVELOP LEADERSHIP BY GOING AFTER THEIR DREAMS.
I AM A TEACHER.
I would not be the person I am today without the inspiring teachers who helped me through so many challenges. They shaped me and ultimately led me to want to become a teacher. While I have always enjoyed the creative arts, I used to struggle in school. These teachers pushed me when I said I couldn't go any further, put in additional time to teach in a way I could understand, and helped me overcome my learning difficulties. I hope that I can be that person to someone else.
For that reason, I have reached out to many struggling youth. I mentored a young woman through Campus Corps, where CSU students are paired with an at-risk youth to develop a relationship through tutoring, discussion, and activities. I sought an internship with TCAMP ( Transitional Creative Arts Mentoring Program), where I connected to students in the juvenile justice system and encouraged personal growth through art. After I had finished my painting and art history degree, I dedicated one year of my life to helping students in an at-risk school in Denver through tutoring and mentoring in an Americorps program called CITY YEAR.
After returning to Fort Collins and completing my Art Education licensure program at CSU, I began working at Prairie School as the sole art teacher for a K-12 school. I also taught 8th grade reading, gifted and talented, and took on any roles that would help support my students.
All students can use a creative arts program. It is important for personal discovery, the development of creative thinking and risk taking, communication, and therapy. I want to be the teacher that sees a student as a whole. Every child needs extra support at some point in their life.
I WANT TO INSPIRE YOUNG PEOPLE,
ENCOURAGE THEM TO GROW FURTHER THAN THEY THOUGHT POSSIBLE
TO TAKE RISKS AND THINK CREATIVELY
FOR THEM TO DEVELOP EMPATHY THROUGH SHARING AND UNDERSTANDING
AND DEVELOP LEADERSHIP BY GOING AFTER THEIR DREAMS.
I AM A TEACHER.