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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. Major: 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, Design Studio, 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
My Teaching Philosophy: I believe creativity is a basic human right and a force for positive change (Hintz, 2017). I believe in racially equitable education and will engage in pedagogy that is humanizing for all 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 language. I want you to explore a variety of methods, skills, and genres, discover your unique abilities, and apply them in service of 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.
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 language. I want you to explore a variety of methods, skills, and genres, discover your unique abilities, and apply them in service of 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.