FRANCINE FREEMAN
FRANCINE FREEMAN
Teacher / Artist / Community Outreach
Teaching Philosophy
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.
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.
Experience
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
2020
Blue Monday Donation Bus, Toronto.com
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