Workshop Photos

Workshop at Rangsit University, Bangkok, Thailand

Dr. Desi Cameron leading a reflection session after teachers created their own perfect island community and brought it to life.

Teachers creating an arts learning wall, reflecting on what they learned in an arts integration and movement workshop.

From the Director of UCLA's Visual and Performing Arts Education (VAPAE) Program

Dr. Cameron's knowledgeable and vibrant presence energized our community of teaching artists and undergraduate students. Her professional development workshop on social emotional learning balanced theory and practical strategies that can be applied in classrooms of all arts practices and age groups. All of our teaching artists, students, and staff expressed their gratitude for her contributions to our learning community, and we all look forward to bringing her insights into our work and our own lives."

From the Associate Education Specialist, Education Department at The Getty

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 Education Coordinator, Teacher Programs at LACMA

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 Senior Director of Education 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 Coordinator of Teacher Programs at the Skirball Cultural Center

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 created ease, trust, and fun among the participants, and the material you shared was fantastic and relevant!"

From a Workshop Participant

Thank you for an amazing workshop! I absolutely loved it! I wish you were in charge of professional development for our district! Please let me know when your next workshop is and where as I'd love to attend. I learned so much in such a short amount of time. Thank you!"

From the Founder and Executive Director of Outlaws and Justice 

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 former Director of Teacher Education at Pepperdine University

Dr. Desi Cameron is a master teacher, an exceptional leader, a wonderfully supportive and encouraging teacher educator, and a creative instructor.  She can captivate a crowd with her dynamic personality, great sense of humor, and strong command of educational theory and practice, while also having the ability to genuinely connect with her audience. Desiree is such an incredible professor and human being.  Every time she speaks, I am inspired. Her students adore her, as do we!"

From the CEO of GET Theatre

Desi is one of the most gifted, generous, and energized teachers I have ever had the pleasure to witness in the classroom. I often see some of her former students from her years at NYU, and they describe her as the educator that most influenced their practice. I learned so much from witnessing her meticulous planning, creative and effective classroom management, and incredible connection with people. Desiree has a keen sense of group dynamics and has the remarkable ability to adjust in the moment to captivate any audience."

From the Program Director of Educational Theatre at New York University

I can say, unequivocally, that Desi has an excellent understanding of arts education, as well as a strong background in it.  In fact, Desi possesses profound insights about teaching and learning issues in general.  As her CV indicates, she has an impressive background in teaching in the K-12 classroom, teaching at the University level, and facilitating workshops on arts education, arts integration, and creative classroom practices. I have had the pleasure to read some of Desi’s essays, articles, and drafts of her research, both when she was my student and as a colleague, and she is an excellent writer.  I feel lucky to have shared an office with Desi where I could get her expert advice on lessons I was creating, or on writing that I was undertaking. Likewise, as she taught a variety of teacher education courses, observed student teachers in their school placements, and advised students, Desi always received outstanding evaluations from her students.  In fact, educational theatre students provided me with unsolicited positive comments about Desi’s guidance in student teaching, as well as her ideas on classroom management, which, her students said, have influenced them to feel empowered and well prepared for teaching young people. I can't speak highly enough about Desi. She is a truly outstanding teacher, a collaborative supportive co-worker, and an amazingly warm and caring person."  

From a Teacher Candidate at Pepperdine University

You make me want to be the best teacher I can possibly be! Thank you for proving that classrooms can-and should- be fun, and that teachers can and should shower each and every student with respect and love. I could make a proper "Things Dr. Cameron Taught Me at Pepperdine" list but I don't want to write a novel right now. All I know is that if I can be even 1/10 like you as a teacher, I'll have succeeded in life."

From a Former Student at New York University

Desi was one of the most motivating and inspiring people I have every met. She made sure that the classes I was taking at NYU were what I wanted and always made time for me to rethink my goals and why it was that I decided to be a Teaching Artist. She was so encouraging! Desi was also a power house in the classroom and was able to show me how to truly engage with everyone while still being able to step back and understand what direction the class needed to go. Her warm and gracious energy always made my day and I feel privileged to have been at NYU while she was there. She is a wonderful and needed addition to any community she steps into."

From a Classroom Teacher

Dr. Cameron was one of my professors at Pepperdine, and I now have a class of my own, teaching 31 first graders. I can't even begin to describe the impact she has had on me and the teacher I am now. Her positive, infectious personality made her class the most captivating, inspiring class I've ever taken. Her arts-based lessons were so engaging, hands on, and applicable to any grade level and content area. Her class deepened my love for teaching and learning. Her teaching style sheds a light on how a classroom should feel and operate. She created a learning environment that made me crave more and more and I didn't want to leave. That's how we should make all our students feel everyday."