Harmony Turner 

Dear families, colleagues, and advocates for exceptional education,

 

       It is my honor to introduce myself to you, and to embody the position of an essential figure (teacher) in the lives of all those most meaningful to us (our students). Teaching is a field that made its way into my life through a not so ordinary, but absolutely extraordinary, medium: the arts. As I was pursuing my career as a professional performer in a Bollywood dance company, I had the opportunity to teach this fabulous dance form to various schools of the Los Angeles community. This experience planted a seed that would blossom during an internship position where I taught arts-integration for an Elementary school in Honolulu. It was then that I knew, that a life as a teaching artist is what I was meant for, and my ambitions to synthesize academics and arts education had just begun. Whether it be the fact that my own mother homeschooled me during my formative years, a woman driven by arts, philosophy, and culture, or the premise that I am genuinely a life-long learner, eager for new knowledge, either way, I am here now and wholeheartedly committed to this field. Fusing the fundamentals of arts with foundational academia is my life's work.

       Throughout my endeavors as a teacher, I have come to learn vital skills necessary to ensure nurturing, compassionate, and productive bonds with my students. Patience and honesty are key to establishing rapport, while respect and integrity are critical for development. Having grown up in different parts of the world, exposed to a range of cultures and communities, and deeply inspired by an array of art forms, I have learned to see life and education as inseparable friends. Being educated in how to implement brain-based learning techniques, social-emotional learning, and arts-integration, I am equipped to see a child for the whole, human being that he/she is. My training in children and teen yoga education has primed me to create a classroom environment, curriculum, and management system steeped in the philosophies of self-care, self-direction, self-regulation, and self-awareness. Not only am I able to adapt my teaching strategies to meet the needs of all learner types, I am acutely aware of the personhood belonging to each and every one of my students: their dreams, interests, challenges, and diversities. This breadth and versatility in knowledge and experiences allows me to uphold a professional demeanor, while equally showcasing my personal investment in education. As an avid believer in continuing education, I pride myself on the professional development opportunities I pursue and the constant self-reflection I engage in. Teacher and student success is something I value as innately equal, meaning one simply cannot thrive without the other. It is my goal to ensure this perfect balance utilizing all that I have gained, and all I have to give.

       Looking forward, I envision a future rich with personal and professional advancements in the field of education. I expect to be at the forefront regarding arts-integration and yoga in schools. I foresee myself shifting gracefully from the position of educator to one wherein I can affect greater change and reform in education as a whole. I know that I will always serve the community in one way or another, and that this effort must continue to come back to where I found myself as a teacher: in the schools and through the arts. Considering my ambitions, I am confident that I will continue to discover new ways to strengthen myself as a teaching artist, and in doing so, advocate for the exceptional education that is deserved by all children, all people, all ages. I will shine as a teacher because I am always a student first.