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District Arts Office Artist In Residence - Ruth English - TK Art and Mindfulness Program 2021 - Current
Ruth English is an experienced Early Childhood Educator. Ruth English earned her BFA in Theater from The University of Southern California. She quickly found that her theater training was very useful in the classroom, especially with very young students. Ruth was a lead preschool teacher for many years in Los Angeles at The Hollywood Schoolhouse. She also served as their Diversity Coordinator. After moving to the Coachella Valley, Ruth was drawn to museums and the unique educational experiences they provided. As the Early Childhood Education Coordinator at The Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert, she designed and facilitated all programming for the preschool visitors and their caregivers. Ruth has also recently enjoyed being an educator for Cabot’s Pueblo Museum.
Ruth firmly believes that respect for young children is crucial in order to provide a sense of safety and belonging. When a child feels safe, they are able to celebrate their individuality. This then leads to early learning experiences that deepen their desire to be curious about themselves and the world. She knows that exposure to the arts is fundamental and vital to this learning process. Providing young children with additional tools to express themselves as well as navigate the world can make a significant difference in their development. Tools such as mindfulness and meditation are instrumental in giving young children increased self-awareness, confidence and empathy. Ruth is thrilled to be facilitating the TK Mindfulness and Art sessions throughout the district.
Ruth is currently enrolled in The Intensive Practice Program at The UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center. She looks forward to enriching her own mindfulness practice and continuing to bring what she learns into the classrooms.
