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I'm Haley MacKenzie...And if you're reading this, you must be one of my students (or one of my students' family members).
Whether creativity is a muscle you already exercise regularly, or this is your first time putting a pencil to paper (or finger to shutter release button, or mouse to screen) with artistic intentions, I'm so excited to walk with you on your creative journey! Before we embark on that journey together though, let me introduce myself. I came to teaching after working as a Graphic Designer and Illustrator in a variety of settings, gaining a breadth of experience in the design field which I now incorporate into my classes. |
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EducationSDSU - BA, Magna Cum Laude: Art, Emphasis in Graphic Design
Grossmont College - AA: Art, Emphasis in Digital Media Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandizing - Year 1 Fashion Design ExperienceLa Costa Canyon High School: Teacher; Digital Art & Design, Advanced Digital Art & Design, Drawing & Painting, Yearbook, Imaging, Photo Imaging, Advanced Digital Imaging, Drawing & Design.
e3 Civic High School: Teacher; Digital Media Arts 1, 2, & 3 Hand Made Market: CoFounder/CoOwner, Branding, Crafter Haley Made: Freelance Graphic Designer & Illustrator Civilian Agency: Creative Department Protegé Camp Run-A-Mutt: Media Designer |
My Philosophy of Education: A Letter to My Students
Why I Teach: I want to help you learn to love creating. I will work to help you build a foundation you can take with you beyond art classes; a foundation of mutual respect, open mindedness, creativity, experimentation, courage, communication, community awareness, and empathy. Not all students will want to be artists or work in creative fields, but I believe creative classes benefit ALL individuals. Students that do want to continue into creative careers will be able to push themselves in class to further develop those skills. My main goal is for you to come to see creation and art making as a healthy outlet, coping mechanism, and valuable mode for communication; I want art to be there for you when you need to make your voice heard. I want to teach you to recognize your strengths, take creative risks, not fear failure, and love yourself as you are. You don’t have to be a politician, lawyer, or scientist to make a difference in this world. Art is a universal language that transcends grammar and vocabulary. I want you to explore a variety of methods, skills, and genres, discover your unique abilities and apply them for the greater good. I want us to cultivate a spirit of introspection and reflection; constantly ask yourself why you’re doing or making something? What message is it conveying, and how will it help or affect others? It is sharing a story that needs to be heard, or sharing a life experience others will connect to? I hope together we can learn to use art as a tool to identify and solve problems, enact change, connect people, and improve the quality of life for ourselves and our fellow beings.
Who Am I to You: I will expect great things from you and push you to do your best, but will also strive to be fair, flexible, and understanding when life gets in the way. I want to be caring and empathetic, and hope you feel safe coming to me with your problems, questions, successes and failures. I hope you come to see me as a mentor that challenges you with new tools and tasks but also the freedom to grow and explore for yourself.
Reality Check: I teach using computers and technical software and we will use academic and technical language often; I try to be aware of what different circumstances you might come from and resources you may or may not have at home. I will always try to have translations available, and will deliver lessons verbally, visually, and physically through demos or examples. I don’t expect you to have access to Photoshop or cameras at home so I try to design class in such a way that, if you’re productive and focused, you can accomplish tasks within the time we’re together in class.
Grading, the Necessary Evil: In the “real world,” you put a piece of yourself out on display and the audience reacts, whether that means on a gallery wall, on a street corner, or on social media; some people react may positively and some negatively. However the audience responds, no two people view art work or it’s merit the same way. Art and its evaluation are often subjective, and no one person is the single, ultimate judge of a piece’s success in the “real world” so why am I the single, ultimate judge in the classroom? I disagree with grading art on a fundamental level, but it’s a requirement of my job and I’ll do it as fairly as possible. I will focus on specific goals for each project to simplify expectations and narrow our focus on one or several skills at a time, while still allowing creative freedom. As the year goes on and your skills increase, so will the scope of the projects and my expectations of your work. Project focuses will include teamwork, professionalism, work ethic, composition, technical ability, conceptual depth, and creativity. This approach will allow you to shine in your areas of strength and struggle in areas of growth throughout the year. Both are a part of life and both will be a part of class. To connect to the “real world” and extend our reach and awareness beyond the classroom, you will be encouraged, and at times required, to exhibit your work publicly. This can include social media, local art shows, partnerships with community clients and organizations, and public projects that will outlast our academic school year. Art that hangs on a wall can beautiful, but art that serves a purpose in the community can change lives, and although it might sound idealistic, that’s what I’m in this for.
Who Am I to You: I will expect great things from you and push you to do your best, but will also strive to be fair, flexible, and understanding when life gets in the way. I want to be caring and empathetic, and hope you feel safe coming to me with your problems, questions, successes and failures. I hope you come to see me as a mentor that challenges you with new tools and tasks but also the freedom to grow and explore for yourself.
Reality Check: I teach using computers and technical software and we will use academic and technical language often; I try to be aware of what different circumstances you might come from and resources you may or may not have at home. I will always try to have translations available, and will deliver lessons verbally, visually, and physically through demos or examples. I don’t expect you to have access to Photoshop or cameras at home so I try to design class in such a way that, if you’re productive and focused, you can accomplish tasks within the time we’re together in class.
Grading, the Necessary Evil: In the “real world,” you put a piece of yourself out on display and the audience reacts, whether that means on a gallery wall, on a street corner, or on social media; some people react may positively and some negatively. However the audience responds, no two people view art work or it’s merit the same way. Art and its evaluation are often subjective, and no one person is the single, ultimate judge of a piece’s success in the “real world” so why am I the single, ultimate judge in the classroom? I disagree with grading art on a fundamental level, but it’s a requirement of my job and I’ll do it as fairly as possible. I will focus on specific goals for each project to simplify expectations and narrow our focus on one or several skills at a time, while still allowing creative freedom. As the year goes on and your skills increase, so will the scope of the projects and my expectations of your work. Project focuses will include teamwork, professionalism, work ethic, composition, technical ability, conceptual depth, and creativity. This approach will allow you to shine in your areas of strength and struggle in areas of growth throughout the year. Both are a part of life and both will be a part of class. To connect to the “real world” and extend our reach and awareness beyond the classroom, you will be encouraged, and at times required, to exhibit your work publicly. This can include social media, local art shows, partnerships with community clients and organizations, and public projects that will outlast our academic school year. Art that hangs on a wall can beautiful, but art that serves a purpose in the community can change lives, and although it might sound idealistic, that’s what I’m in this for.