Teaching in K-12 Schools and Community Settings

"Desi, you continue to bring the exceptionally high standards to all your work in the performing arts department and at WNS. In addition to the outstanding performances created by you and the members of your department, you contribute your many strengths in pedagogical theory, educational innovation, and great vision in the ways performing arts can impact student learning at WNS.  Your leadership with the visual and performing arts is also an important and appreciated part of your work here.  The impact you make on student lives is evident by the deep affection they have for you, even years after they leave WNS." - Senior Administration

I've been teaching at Westside Neighborhood School for the past 12 years. For the first two years, I taught fifth grade and worked on musical productions. Then, I moved into the performing arts department. I've been the Director of Visual and Performing Arts at WNS for the past 10 years, I teach middle school theatre arts classes, and I direct multiple productions each year. Below is the most recent written observation I received from senior administration at my school. 

I've been honored to speak at the Getty Center for educators and docents on Empathy through Art, as well as providing activities to further engage their visitors.

"Thank you for the excellent presentation of your talk on "Empathy through Art." It was thoughtful, engaging, interactive, compassionate, and also lots of fun. A special experience truly enjoyed by everyone!"
​- From the Associate Education Specialist ​at The Getty

I was honored to be invited as a keynote speaker to talk about Empathy and the Arts at LACMA for one of their evenings for educators.  

From an attendee: "Best speaker I've heard in the 9 years I've been coming to these events." 

"Thank you so much for delivering an incredible lecture. I was so glad to finally meet you in person and look forward to finding more opportunities to bring your expertise to LACMA." - From the Education Coordinator, Teacher Programs at LACMA

"Desi, please accept my warmest THANK YOU for your wonderful workshop in our Teaching Through Storytelling program. I enjoyed working with you through every step of the process, and was impressed and inspired by the workshop you led. You create ease, trust, and fun among the participants, and the material you shared was fantastic and relevant!" - From the former Coordinator of Teacher Programs at the Skirball Cultural Center

I've worked as a workshop presenter for years at the Skirball Cultural Center. I've so enjoyed teaching drama activities for K-12 teachers connected to various exhibits, as well as providing tools to add more movement and engaging activities in the classroom. I've taught as part of Teaching Our World Through the Arts as well as their professional development series for educators. Moreover, I was asked to also lead workshops for docents to help them make their tours even more engaging. 

I've had the wonderful opportunity of working with The Music Center in downtown Los Angeles. I initially ran a few professional development workshops for teachers but then was asked to be an educational consultant where I helped to develop a framework for classroom teachers and teaching artists to collaborate and thrive together. I also served on their Teacher Advisory Council since it's founding. 

"When presented with the possibility of creating a Teacher Advisory Council at The Music Center, I immediately invited Desiree, knowing that she would become a natural leader with in the group and drive us in the direction of quality in arts education that aligned with the institutions broader educational mission. With significant knowledge in various arts education theories, approaches and best practices and with a background as a theatre artist, and a certified classroom teacher she is able to deliver rigorous content while gracefully presenting practical, useable, and clear instructional tools for arts integration ​in Elementary and Secondary classrooms."
- From the Former Regional Programs Manager at The Music Center

​I had the wonderful opportunity to lead a team-building experience for docents, security staff, visitor services, and the education department at the Bowers Museum. 

"Thank you, Desi Cameron, for an amazing team-building experience today at the Bowers Museum for our docents, visitor services staff, security team and education department! We played, we laughed, and we will surely grow. Thank you for helping us start the school year with wings of hope!"
- From the former Senior Director of Education at the Bowers Museum

From 2009 to 2011, I worked as a drama and educational consultant and teacher trainer for (Out)laws and Justice. I was also invited to contribute chapters to their teacher handbook. 

"Desi Cameron's leadership as a professional development facilitator and mentor to classroom teachers was exceptionally thorough, gifted, and successful, which was evidenced by the success classroom teachers were able to incorporate skills
​they learned from Dr. Cameron into their own classrooms."
- From the Founder and Executive Director of Outlaws and Justice

As part of my work with (Out)laws and Justice, I worked with students at Frida Kahlo High School exploring themes of justice through drama. 

For two summers, I worked with Damian McBeath at Friars Primary School as part of the NYU study abroad program to support and nurture drama teaching artists in schools. 

I was a theatre teaching artist at Coler Hospital, working with a group of theatre artists to collaborate with AIDS patients. We brought joy, laughter, and performance to that wing of the hospital. 

I taught a drama class at Girls Inc. I loved working with girls to empower them to find and share their voice through theatre. 

I worked with Girl Scouts in Florida to help them earn their drama badges. 

I worked at Florida Studio Theatre as an education associate, a K-12 playwriting teaching artist in Title 1 schools, and as an acting/scene study teacher for 6 year olds through 80 year olds. I also traveled to perform as part of the children's theatre company. 

I was a fifth grade teacher at Prine Elementary in Florida where I integrated the arts into the classroom. I adored teaching language arts, history, math, and reading to my students all while introducing them to various aspects of the visual and performing arts. 

I taught 33 third graders at Palmetto Elementary in Manatee County, Florida. This is where I did some of my student teaching and was offered a long-term substitute position in third grade. 

My teaching career began over 20 years ago at Bradenton Academy in Bradenton, Florida. I taught fifth and sixth grades. I loved it so much, I realized I needed to pursue my masters degree in elementary education.