Skylar Smith’s teaching philosophy encompasses the following four ‘Guiding Principles’: 1. Inclusion. Creating a classroom environment that welcomes and challenges diverse learners and students at various skill-levels. 2. Community. Providing in-class and extracurricular opportunities for students to connect to and engage with the larger Louisville community. 3. Toolbox. Providing students with a diverse ‘toolbox’ of hard and soft skills to succeed in high school and after graduation. 4. Context. Through in-class curriculum and off-campus field trips, introduce students to art history and the art market, to create context for their artwork and role as an artist.