teaching & education
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Kai is dedicated to reflective and anti-oppressive teaching and cultivating communities of practice. She has spent over 15 years in museums working closely with students, teens, and teachers. She is a master and trainer of Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS), a teaching method for facilitating inclusive and collaborative discussions about art. Her expertise in education goes beyond teaching and includes program and curriculum design, evaluation, and management.
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teaching & education experience
Hammer Museum, Academic Programs, Los Angeles
Specialist, University Audiences, 2022 - Present
Los Angeles Metro
Specialized Arts Education & Curriculum Development Consultant, 2020 - Present
Conceptualize and design downloadable curriculum guides for high school teachers to connect students with artworks and exhibitions at Metro stations
Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS)
Trainer, 2019 - Present
Certified VTS Trainer; facilitate constructivist and reflective workshops with VTS trainees and classroom teachers through in-school and international virtual trainings; support practitioners through a reflective group coaching process and through one-on-one coaching; VTS is a teaching method that cultivates critical thinking, communication skills, and visual literacy through facilitated discussions of visual images and works of arts
The New York Times
The Learning Network Moderator, 2019 - Present
Facilitate online discussions for the “What is going on in this picture?” digital program
Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Education Department, Los Angeles
Guest VTS Coach (workshops and classroom visits), 2021
Senior Education Manager, Teen & School Programs, 2019
Education Manager, Teen & School Programs, 2018 - 2019
Education Program Coordinator, 2013 - 2018
Contemporary Art Start (CAS) Educator, 2011 - 2013
Dot Red, Los Angeles
Education Consultant, 2017
Designed school partnership tour program model; developed strategic plan to fund and build program over two years that included research and assessment
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Education Department
Ancient World Mobile Gallery Teacher, Boone Children’s Gallery Facilitator, Charles White Gallery Educator, 2009 - 2017
Led gallery discussions about symbols of virtue in ancient cultures in 6th grade classroom curriculum; engaged visitors in meaningful museum experience through art making and story time; facilitated gallery discussions and art making activities at offsite gallery
Skirball Cultural Center, Education Department, Los Angeles
Noah’s Ark Gallery Educator, 2009 – 2014
Facilitated visitor experiences through art making, puppeteering, musical jam sessions and storytelling; facilitated the drop-in art studio
VTS Graduate Student Consultant, 2013
Researched the implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in California; created an English Language Arts CCSS primer packet for VTS staff
Loyola Marymount University (LMU), Los Angeles
Teaching Assistant, Fall 2013
ART 250: Visual Arts for the Elementary Teacher; guided undergraduate students in designing and implementing visual arts curriculum in a classroom
Paul Getty Museum, Education Department, Los Angeles
Family Art Lab Sub-Contractor, Summer 2012
Led intergenerational gallery discussions and facilitated post-gallery art making activity
Vincent Price Art Museum, Los Angeles
re:present L.A., 2012
Co-curated juried exhibition at the Vincent Price Art Museum; developed interactive gallery materials; coordinated school and family programming
Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions (LACE)
Volunteer Education Coordinator, 2010 - 2012
Prepared original exhibition tours; coordinated school visits with resident artist; researched potential funding and partnerships to increase education programming
Japanese American National Museum, Education Department, Los Angeles
Gallery Facilitator, 2010
Facilitated art activities for visitors to enable thought and interaction with exhibition
Hills Academy of Music and Art Teacher, Torrance, CA
Visual Arts Teacher, 2010 - 2011
Instructed studio lessons for ages 1 – 40+, installed annual student art exhibition
After School All-Stars, Los Angeles
Program Leader, 2010 - 2011
Designed and implemented after school art curriculum for grades 6 and 7 at CRMA #4
Dolores Mission School, Los Angeles
Part-time Art Teacher, 2009 - 2010
Taught 1st – 7th grade art curriculum aligned with the California VAPA standards; organized seven museum field trips; managed undergraduate intern
Specialist, University Audiences, 2022 - Present
- Cultivate opportunities for UCLA students that foster professional development through real work experience in the museum
- Collaborate with Academic Programs team to develop and implement emergent curriculum and gallery teaching pedagogy
- Oversee the development, implementation, and evaluation of:
- Hammer Student Educator program, a cohort of paid UCLA undergraduate and graduate students who facilitate museum tours and education programs
- Hammer Student Association, a group of student staff who plan the museum's annual Arts Party, an event that brings over 3,000 college students to the Hammer
- Graphite Interdisciplinary Arts Journal, a student-run print journal and blog
- Hammer’s academic year internship program
- Manage 18 part-time staff members yearly including 15 Student Educators, Graphite Journal co-heads, and interns
Los Angeles Metro
Specialized Arts Education & Curriculum Development Consultant, 2020 - Present
Conceptualize and design downloadable curriculum guides for high school teachers to connect students with artworks and exhibitions at Metro stations
Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS)
Trainer, 2019 - Present
Certified VTS Trainer; facilitate constructivist and reflective workshops with VTS trainees and classroom teachers through in-school and international virtual trainings; support practitioners through a reflective group coaching process and through one-on-one coaching; VTS is a teaching method that cultivates critical thinking, communication skills, and visual literacy through facilitated discussions of visual images and works of arts
The New York Times
The Learning Network Moderator, 2019 - Present
Facilitate online discussions for the “What is going on in this picture?” digital program
Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Education Department, Los Angeles
Guest VTS Coach (workshops and classroom visits), 2021
Senior Education Manager, Teen & School Programs, 2019
Education Manager, Teen & School Programs, 2018 - 2019
Education Program Coordinator, 2013 - 2018
Contemporary Art Start (CAS) Educator, 2011 - 2013
- Co-managed MOCA Teen Program, a year-long intensive internship program for a diverse group of 18 teens; created responsive curriculum that promoted collaboration and empowerment and supported personal growth through learning about and working at the museum, discussing, researching and creating art, and planning and executing annual Teen Night event for nearly 1,000 teens; managed growing budget of 120k+
- Educator and manager for teacher and school program, Contemporary Art Start (CAS); trained and coached classroom teachers to use VTS; designed and coordinated teacher professional development workshops; designed and implemented evolving and ongoing program evaluation; managed program elements and staffing; recruited and managed seasonal volunteers; executed complex culminating event Student Art Connection biyearly; collaboratively planned and facilitated drop-in art making workshop Sunday Studio; provided VTS gallery tours; worked closely with team dedicated to a reflective and constructivist teaching practice
- Developed program logic models; engaged in equity and inclusion efforts inside and outside of MOCA
Dot Red, Los Angeles
Education Consultant, 2017
Designed school partnership tour program model; developed strategic plan to fund and build program over two years that included research and assessment
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Education Department
Ancient World Mobile Gallery Teacher, Boone Children’s Gallery Facilitator, Charles White Gallery Educator, 2009 - 2017
Led gallery discussions about symbols of virtue in ancient cultures in 6th grade classroom curriculum; engaged visitors in meaningful museum experience through art making and story time; facilitated gallery discussions and art making activities at offsite gallery
Skirball Cultural Center, Education Department, Los Angeles
Noah’s Ark Gallery Educator, 2009 – 2014
Facilitated visitor experiences through art making, puppeteering, musical jam sessions and storytelling; facilitated the drop-in art studio
VTS Graduate Student Consultant, 2013
Researched the implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in California; created an English Language Arts CCSS primer packet for VTS staff
Loyola Marymount University (LMU), Los Angeles
Teaching Assistant, Fall 2013
ART 250: Visual Arts for the Elementary Teacher; guided undergraduate students in designing and implementing visual arts curriculum in a classroom
Paul Getty Museum, Education Department, Los Angeles
Family Art Lab Sub-Contractor, Summer 2012
Led intergenerational gallery discussions and facilitated post-gallery art making activity
Vincent Price Art Museum, Los Angeles
re:present L.A., 2012
Co-curated juried exhibition at the Vincent Price Art Museum; developed interactive gallery materials; coordinated school and family programming
Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions (LACE)
Volunteer Education Coordinator, 2010 - 2012
Prepared original exhibition tours; coordinated school visits with resident artist; researched potential funding and partnerships to increase education programming
Japanese American National Museum, Education Department, Los Angeles
Gallery Facilitator, 2010
Facilitated art activities for visitors to enable thought and interaction with exhibition
Hills Academy of Music and Art Teacher, Torrance, CA
Visual Arts Teacher, 2010 - 2011
Instructed studio lessons for ages 1 – 40+, installed annual student art exhibition
After School All-Stars, Los Angeles
Program Leader, 2010 - 2011
Designed and implemented after school art curriculum for grades 6 and 7 at CRMA #4
Dolores Mission School, Los Angeles
Part-time Art Teacher, 2009 - 2010
Taught 1st – 7th grade art curriculum aligned with the California VAPA standards; organized seven museum field trips; managed undergraduate intern
education
M.A. Arts Management, Concentration in Education
Claremont Graduate University, Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito School of Management, Claremont, CA
Beta Gamma Sigma International Honor Society for Collegiate Schools of Business; Teaching Assistant for Laura Zucker, Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Arts Commission; Co-Director of Arts Enterprise CGU Chapter
B.A. Art Education, Minor in Art History
Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles
Scholar of Distinction in Art Education; Scholar of Distinction in Jewelry Arts
B.A. Urban Studies, Minor in Sociology
Loyola Marymount University
Social Justice Committee; Associated Students of LMU (ASLMU); Delta Epsilon Iota Academic Honor Society; Admissions Team Tour Guide; LMU Leadership Merit Scholarship Recipient
Claremont Graduate University, Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito School of Management, Claremont, CA
Beta Gamma Sigma International Honor Society for Collegiate Schools of Business; Teaching Assistant for Laura Zucker, Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Arts Commission; Co-Director of Arts Enterprise CGU Chapter
B.A. Art Education, Minor in Art History
Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles
Scholar of Distinction in Art Education; Scholar of Distinction in Jewelry Arts
B.A. Urban Studies, Minor in Sociology
Loyola Marymount University
Social Justice Committee; Associated Students of LMU (ASLMU); Delta Epsilon Iota Academic Honor Society; Admissions Team Tour Guide; LMU Leadership Merit Scholarship Recipient