Teaching Philosophy
Mikaela Renae Stadler is an art and design teacher located in Denver, Colorado. As an educator, her goal is to foster life long learning through project based learning and STEAM education.
Through the lens of Design Thinking Mrs. Stadler makes frequent connections between real world problems and student’s everyday life, learning in other subjects, and creating innovative solutions that make our world a better place. She strives to help students of all ages:
Think critically about the world around them by asking essential questions.
Develop healthy life skills by expressing ideas and emotions through the creative process (social emotional learning SEL integration).
Empower individuals to create solutions that serve and better their communities (community engagement).
Born and raised in Colorado, Mikaela is also a dedicated mountaineer and backcountry skier. This passion requires meticulous planning, teamwork, resilience, adaptability, careful strategic planning and strong decision-making under high-pressure conditions—qualities that directly translate to successfully navigating the complex and ever-changing landscape of modern education.
CV
Education
2025 Masters of Education in STEM Education, American College of Education, Online
2019 K-12 Art Education Licensure, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Colorado Department of Education
2018 B.F.A., Metropolitan State University of Denver, Art Education, Denver, CO
Certifications
2025 Certified STEM Educator, National Institute for STEM Education
2021 Colorado K-12 Art Education Professional License, Colorado Department of Education
Professional Development
2025 AI in Formative Assessment and Feedback Loops, Idaho State University, Albion Center, Online
2025 Welcome Web3: An Introduction to Decentralized Digital Age for Education, Idaho State University, Albion Center, Online
2025 Before You Burn Out: Teacher Self-Care Interventions, Idaho State University, Albion Center, Online
2025 AI Empowered Design Thinking, Idaho State University, Albion Center, Online
2025 AI Empowered STEM Instruction, Idaho State University, Albion Center, Online
2025 Mentoring a New Teacher, Idaho State University, Albion Center, Online
2025 Youth Mental Health, Idaho State University, Albion Center, Online
2025 Increasing Positive Behavior in the Classroom, Idaho State University, Albion Center, Online
2025 Student Engagement and Motivation, Idaho State University, Albion Center, Online
2025 Curriculum & Nuance Coaching, Idaho State University, Albion Center, Online
2025 Graphic Design for Everyday Uses, Idaho State University, Albion Center, Online
2025 What Every Teacher Should Know About ADHD, Idaho State University, Albion Center, Online
2025 Learning Beyond the Classroom: Experiential education in Action, Idaho State University, Albion Center, Online
2025 Grant Writing for Teachers, Idaho State University, Albion Center, Online
2025 Truth, Trust, and Technology: Academic Integrity in the AI Age, Idaho State University, Albion Center, Online
2025 Teaching Teens to Use AI Responsibly, Idaho State University, Albion Center, Online
2025 The Middle Child-Strategies to Master Teaching the Middle School Student, Idaho State University, Albion Center, Online
Teaching
2023 Visual Art and Design Teacher, Overland Trail Middle School, Brighton, CO
2020 Art Teacher, Red Hen Createry, Littleton, CO
2019 Art Teacher, Clayton Elementary School, Englewood, CO
2019 Camp Staff, GoldStar Learning Opportunities, Denver, CO
2019 Long Term Substitute, Physical Education, Clayton Elementary School, Englewood, CO
2019 Long Term Substitute, 2D Art, Beginning Ceramics, Advanced Painting, Vista PEAK Preparatory, Aurora, CO
2018 Student Teaching, Mary Lynn Baird, Clayton Elementary School, Englewood, CO
Selected Exhibitions
2018 Inside Out: Art and Reflection, Feeling Into, 40 West Arts Gallery, Lakewood, CO
2018 Spring 2018 B.F.A. Thesis Exhibition, Feeling Into, Center for Visual Arts, Denver, CO
Publications
2018 Tats, Series, Metrosphere
2018 I'm Fine, It's Fine, Everything's Fine, Metrosphere
2018 Feeling Into, 2018 BFA Thesis Catalogue