For October’s faculty Friday we’re spotlighting Adam Woodruff. Mr. Woodruff originally comes from a background in health administration, but chose to pursue teaching after being inspired by his parents, both of whom are educators, and his work as a 
performer at Playhouse on the Square in Midtown. Trading bright lights for bright, young minds, Mr. Woodruff serves as the lower school music and arts teacher for St. Georges!
For Mr. Woodruff, music and the arts have always been a part of his life. His mother was a music teacher, which instilled in him an appreciation for sharing the arts with others. Mr. Woodruff names his childhood experience with the arts as a principal influence on his approach to teaching at St. George’s.
“Music and the arts have been a part of my life since my earliest memories,” adds Mr. Woodruff. “But it was always more than simply listening to music or making art – I was encouraged to think about how the pieces made me feel, and in turn, how those feelings impacted me,” he elaborates.
Mr. Woodruff explains, “a comprehensive arts education is invaluable to building global and compassionate leaders – it should be accessible and interesting to all students, regardless of their ability or background.”
His teaching methodology facilitates this by encouraging students to look at music and art as a tool for knowledge and personal growth, rather than a skill that must be learned. His students know that trying new mediums is the goal, and that comparison and negative self-talk have no place in his classroom. He firmly believes that exploration of the arts, regardless of a student’s ability, isa way to expand a student’s understanding well beyond the technical art lessons they’re practicing.
"Music is a great way to explore the world around us and understand cultures that are different from our own through a shared medium,” he explains. “Students can learn so much by developing a thoughtful appreciation of the arts – that’s an invaluable life lesson.”
Building a collaborative, globally minded classroom culture is essential to Mr. Woodruff, who was trained in the Responsive Classroom methodology. This educational method seeks to teach students important critical thinking, emotional and social skills through creative thought processes.
“The method challenges students to identify what they know – or don’t know – on their own, develop possible solutions and then ask for my input, which helps them actively engage their minds and think critically about their tasks,” says Mr. Woodruff.
“I love seeing my students’ minds work so creatively; the look of pride they get when they work through an issue on their own is priceless,” he adds.
We are thrilled to have Mr. Woodruff as a part of our St. George’s community and are excited to see the impacts he has on the future generation.