“Art Is not a break from learning—it’s a way into it.”
I am an educator, teaching artist, and consultant who designs learning experiences where art deepens understanding, builds connection, and supports academic growth. In addition to consulting and program design, I am an active teaching artist available for workshops, residencies, and short-term teaching engagements with schools, libraries, and community organizations.
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I design curriculum that uses art to build understanding across subjects—helping students learn through art, not just about it. My work includes Artistry of Literacy, a K–5 program adopted by Ann Arbor Public Schools, and Visual Art Text Sets with Student Achievement Partners, where curated artworks deepen content knowledge and spark conversation. Browse downloadable units in my Teachers Pay Teachers store, or contact me directly if you have a custom project in mind.
“Every lesson is crafted with care, backed by research, and guided by a genuine desire to connect students with the world through art.” — Kaila Piepkow
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I help schools and organizations strengthen arts-integrated learning through collaboration, content design, and alignment. Recent projects include revising image sequences with the Core Knowledge Foundation to enhance literacy connections, and leading a district-wide visual arts alignment for a California charter network—creating a standards-based framework that still honored teacher creativity. I’m certified in Arts Integration and bring a flexible, thoughtful approach that makes art a bridge across disciplines.
“She built a curriculum guide that struck exactly the right balance: a strong, standards-based framework that supported artistic literacy, while still giving teachers the freedom to design their own lessons.” — Ethan Mitnick
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I mentor and train educators—especially non-art teachers—to bring art into their classrooms with confidence and joy. As a Michigan-registered trainer, I lead workshops, lectures, and coaching sessions focused on practical, hands-on art integration for early childhood, K–12, and out-of-school programs. I’ve partnered with organizations like the Nevada Museum of Art, the Center for Arts Integration, and the Ann Arbor YMCA to help teachers make creativity part of everyday learning.
“Tempest provided thoughtful, driven leadership and created skillfully crafted collaborative working spaces.” — Ifetayo Abdus-Salam
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I bring over a decade of experience as a teaching artist, working directly with students, educators, and community groups in hands-on, creative learning environments.
I specialize in process-based, inquiry-driven instruction for young learners (K–5), creating studio spaces where students take ownership of their ideas and every artwork is entirely their own. My teaching centers student voice and exploration—building confidence, curiosity, and creative independence.
One former parent shared, “Thank you, Tempest, for creating such an incredible, welcoming space and teaching the magical process of creativity! Our kids wouldn't be thriving in their creative college programs without you! It was life changing for our kids and we're forever grateful.”
I am currently available for:
One-time workshops
Multi-session residencies
Community-based art programs
Youth and family programming
Programs can be tailored for schools, libraries, nonprofits, and cultural organizations, and can range from highly structured curriculum-based sessions to playful, exploratory workshops.
I began teaching art in New York, moving between schools and afterschool programs before becoming the founding K–5 art teacher at a Brooklyn charter school. There, I noticed that art was often treated as an isolated subject—fun, but disconnected from the rest of the school day. Student success was typically measured by how closely their work matched the teacher’s example.
I knew there had to be a better way.
So, I shifted my approach. In my classroom, we embraced process-driven projects—exploring big ideas, encouraging experimentation, and giving students the freedom to make their own creative choices. The classroom became calmer. The conversations grew deeper. I got to know my students more fully. And their artwork? It became beautifully unique—so much so that it was featured in SchoolArts magazine.
Reach Out
That shift sparked something bigger.
I began collaborating with classroom teachers to design integrated, student-centered projects that used essential questions to link inquiry-based art with core academic subjects. Together, we developed video demonstrations, teacher guides, and flexible tools that made art integration feel achievable and sustainable.
Eventually, I left my teaching position and founded Doodles Academy, a nonprofit dedicated to helping educators bring meaningful, arts-integrated learning directly into their classrooms.
Our flagship program, Artistry of Literacy, combines visual art with the Science of Reading to deepen comprehension, expand vocabulary, and bring stories to life.
From there, we grew:
Art of Early Education introduced early literacy and cultural exploration to preschoolers through process-based art.
Art-iculate! delivered cross-curricular projects in out-of-school settings, equipping afterschool educators with practical tools and training.
Teacher Studios became our signature model for professional learning, providing educators with hands-on experience in each project before introducing it to their students.
At its core, Doodles Academy was built on a simple belief:
Art is not a break from learning—it’s a way into it.
Availability
I am currently accepting teaching, facilitation, and consulting opportunities.
To talk about rates, teaching engagements, or upcoming projects, email me at tempestneucollins@gmail.com.
Curious to see more of what I do? Visit my LinkedIn or Teachers Pay Teachers page.
Over the next decade, we partnered with schools, museums, libraries, and community organizations to demonstrate how art can serve as a catalyst for empathy, critical thinking, and academic connection.
In 2025, funding instability led to a thoughtful transition. The nonprofit branch of Doodles Academy closed, and our core curriculum and programming were merged into larger organizations—ensuring the work continues in classrooms and communities where it matters most.
Today, I carry that work forward through teaching, consulting, coaching, and curriculum design.
Whether I’m leading a hands-on workshop, co-creating arts-integrated units, or supporting educators through professional learning, my goal remains the same:
To use art as a tool for deeper learning, greater equity, and creative possibility.
Availability
I am currently accepting teaching, facilitation, and consulting opportunities.
To talk about rates, teaching engagements, or upcoming projects, email me at tempestneucollins@gmail.com.
Curious to see more of what I do? Visit my LinkedIn or Teachers Pay Teachers page.