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FRANCINE FREEMAN

Teacher / Artist / Community Outreach

Teaching Philosophy                                                                                      

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I begin by outlining my work experience and how it has shaped important aspects of teaching principles that I feel strongly about. These principles involve community outreach, field integration, and social and environmental justice. With these key components students will have cross disciplinary, meaningful and connected experiences.

 

Since my masters degree I have been instructing diverse arts courses like visual arts, media arts, drama, and photography at Royal Crown Academic School. Over six years, mainly while engaging predominantly ESL students, I observed art's power in liberating individuals limited by societal norms. Art became a conduit for their emotions and beliefs, fostering an open and accepting environment, aligning with the commitment to students' well-being and learning. This is aligned with the first Foundation of Professional Practice, Commitment to Students, and Student Learning. A student's voice is their most powerful tool. To understand, assess and make change in the world students must relate personal experiences, beliefs, and knowledge of social and environmental issues that affect their future. Art can help transform and express ideas, stand up for issues, and be a comfortable space to truly represent themselves.

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My pedagogy echoes the tenets of leadership, learning, and community engagement. I prioritize community outreach and real-world field integration, which is evident through public art displays that transcend classroom boundaries. By involving students in such projects, I facilitate connections with various job fields, community initiatives, and the environment, broadening their perspectives on art representation and societal engagement. They have the opportunity to make a connection with the environment that they are in, expanding their thought of what art is and how it should be represented.

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Experience                                                                                                  

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June 2023                      Appleby College 

  Head Instructor

  • Instructor for Exploring the arts and Theatre arts

  • Organizing day to day activities that are well balanced with creative, physical and educational

  • Use of materials in an environmentally conscious way

  • Awarded Staff of the week during first week

 

2017-Present                Royal Crown Academic School

 Art Teacher

  • Teaching of students grade 7-12 based on Ontario Curriculum Standards.

  • Visual Arts: AVI10, AVI20, AVI3M,AVI4M     Media Arts: ASM20, ASM3O      

      Drama: ADA10, ADA20, ADA30

                                              Photography:AWQ3M, AWQ4M 

                                              Middle School: Art 7, Art 8

                                            *Currently building a Technology Program                                                             (TMJ, TDJ)

  • Creating Lesson plans, handouts, PowerPoint, tests and AS/FOR/OF assessments.

  • Grading and keeping backup records of learning and unit lesson plan binder records and student work boxes.

  • Organizing collaborative projects between other class subjects and within the community. 

 

2019-Present                 Royal Crown Academic School

  Head of Community Outreach

  • Organization of bridging classroom learning with community outreach in events including, The Junction Pollination Program, Art Therapy with seniors, Blue Monday Donation Bus, Holiday Mural Backdrops etc.

  • Leadership in delegating tasks, researching, contacting sponsors and aligning participants.

  • Handling funding, budgeting, donations.

  • Working with investors, nonprofits and City Councilors

 

 May 2014-Present       Freelance

 Muralist, painter and Instructor

  • Private and group lessons to all ages included but not limited to painting, drawing, mixed media and sculpture.

  • Paint parties, Paint in the park, youth summer camp programs

  • Meeting client’s needs with the material and subject they wish to explore.

   

 July 2018                    Centauri Arts Camp

Program Director for “An Artists’ Studio”

  • Live in summer camp for 3 weeks. 

  • An Artists’ Studio program was run daily with classes covering drawing, painting and mixed media.

  • Each week I ran additional “mini session seminars” on different art styles and movements of art. 

 

 May 2016-2018           Oakville Art Society

                                      Instructor

  • Children, teen and adult classes ranging from seminars to 4-6 week programs.

  • Classes in various subjects and materials

 

 October 2016-2017      Oakville Memorial Hospital

  Art Therapy Painting Instructor

  • Classes run monthly for nurses to relieve tension in a high stress job. 

  • Painting one image with each class in all different subject matters and styles

Education                                                                                                   

 

2014                                Griffith University, Brisbane

                                        Masters of Fine Arts

         

2010                                Sheridan College, Oakville

                                        Bachelors in Visual Arts

 

Professional Development                                                                        

 

  • CPR C + AED

  • AutoCAD 2D Fundamentals, Seneca College

  • AutoCAD 3D Fundamentals, Seneca College

  • Digital Graphic Fundamentals (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Dreamweaver and Web Design)

 

Community Initiatives                                                                              

 

2022                                The Junction Pollination Street Art

                                        NoVacancy Art Display

2021                                Uproot The System Student Strike

                                        Lunar New Year Mural

                                        Bell Box Mural

2022                                Global Day of Climate Action

                                        Movember Fundraiser

                                        Art Therapy with Seniors     

2020                                Winter Wonderland Mural

                                        Movember Fundraiser

                                        COVID-19 Community Posters

                                        Blue Monday Donation Bus

2019                                Art Therapy with Seniors

                                        Global Day of Climate Action    

 

Media Publications                                                                                   

 

2023

Educator Interview, Royal Crown Academic School

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASQ_8fqhLcw&t=9s

 

2022

Field Based Learning, Royal Crown Academic School

https://www.instagram.com/p/Chuw3jUjMRy/

 

2021

Global Day of Climate Action, CTV News

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Auj_PLiz1o&t=2s

 

2021

NOVACANCY, Scarborough Arts

https://www.scarborougharts.com/congee-town 

 

2020

Art Therapy with Seniors, Presentation Manor

https://presentationmanor.com/intergenerational-program/

 

2020

COVID-19 Posters, Scarborough Health Network Foundation 

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=4324834794225266&id=404950259547092&m_entstream_source=permalink

 

2020

Blue Monday Donation Bus, Toronto.com 

https://www.toronto.com/opinion/blue-monday-donation-bus-combats-depression-through-giving/article_7ccbde5b-4974-5ae9-b373-4479aff0f8ef.html?


 

Awards / Exhibitions                                                                                 

 

2023                                Marty’s Awards Juror, Mississauga Arts Council

    Renewal Exhibit, Melt Gallery

2022                                Murals with Mac, Mississauga Arts Council

                                        #No Vacancy Exhibition, Scarborough Arts          

                                        Intuitive Blues Exhibition, Mississauga Arts 

2021                                Lunar New Year Mural, Scarborough BIA

                                        Bell Box Mural, Councillor Cynthia Lai

2020                                Winter Activation Mural, City of Toronto 

                                        Why Do You Create?, Visual Arts Mississauga 

2017                                Solo Exhibition, Wesburn Manor Art Gallery  

2016                                Group Exhibition, Wesburn Manor Art Gallery 

                                        OAS Instructors Exhibition, Oakville Arts 

2014                                Masters Exhibition, Griffith University 

2012                                30 Artists Under 30, Mississauga Arts Council

                                        Bachelors Showcase, Sheridan College

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