Maria Krajewski
Educational Philosophy
Maria Krajewski is a dedicated and accomplished educator of eight years with extensive experience in challenging students to succeed in and out of the classroom as a special education, ELA, art, and music teacher. She has extensive training and experience in digital media arts (photography, video, graphic design), technical theater and drama, and visual arts (murals, painting, drawing.) She brings a strong work ethic, open mind, and innovative approaches to enhance the school community. She facilitates project-based instruction where students collaborate and work individually to create meaningful work. She feels at home at City-As-School because she can openly and sincerely work with the students as they grow and change while also growing and being changed by them. She loves all the students she has met because they let her into their lives and have trusted her with the most serious work of sharing an education with them. She is inspired by the risks they have taken and where they have gone together. She seeks to be an agent for change everywhere she is and City-As is no exception.
Courses/Internships
I am a Resource Coordinator at City-As-School. I specialize in providing a broad selection of internships within the Arts. This can include everything from becoming a docent who leads gallery tours of The Museum of Modern Art, Lehman Art Gallery, American Folk Museum to learning video and music production at The Door and Educational Video Center (EVC), from developing social media content for a tattoo parlor to attending Broadway shows as a music journalist for the Theater Development Fund, from assisting a variety of local artists and museums including Arts Horizons Leroy Neiman Art Center, sculptures, ceramics makers, video editors to fashion design and merchandising at T & A Showroom. I also support students in extracurricular and pre-professional training opportunities through some of our city’s best cultural institutions. Students can learn Technical Theater backstage at The Apollo Theater, music or video production at Urban Arts Partnership, black and white print photography at the International Center of Photography. I will offer students in-school opportunities to play, write, perform and record music, create performances, and work on murals and video projects.
Bio
I grew up in a small mountain town outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico with my mom, dad, and younger brother. We had many cats, dogs and a horse. I spent a lot of time playing in the woods and swimming in the river. I’m definitely still a hippie at heart. I was really hyper so my parents signed me up for gymnastics when I was five years old and that became my life until high school. The dedication and passion required to train five days a week for three hours a day truly shaped how I approach everything in life. I loved school and reading. My mom was a chef then a teacher and she was a strong role model. My dad was always my closest ally and friend. He taught me how to play guitar and bass which remains one of the most important things I do each day. I spent much of my free time with musicians and putting on concerts at the local teen club. My favorite subject in high school was psychology and that was initially what I wanted to pursue as a career. My favorite authors are Hunter S. Thompson, JD Salinger, Junot Diaz, and Edwidge Danticat. One of my favorite books I read recently is Savage City by TJ English which is about the civil rights movement and unrest in New York City in the 1960’s and 1970’s.
I moved to New York City to attend Hunter College and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Film and Photography and later received my Masters of Education from Queens College. I always wanted to live in New York because it was so exciting and full of adventure. I taught gymnastics for many years which brought me great joy. One of my proudest accomplishments in college was writing, directing, and shooting my own film. I am outgoing and fun-loving. I love to travel and some of my favorite cities are Beijing, Berlin, Istanbul, and Paris. I was very lucky to visit Rwanda to help build a music studio at an orphanage and teach music production. I love playing in bands and going to concerts. I have many, many favorite bands including the Smashing Pumpkins, Radiohead, Modest Mouse, Muse, Arcade Fire, and Thursday. I live with my boyfriend in Brooklyn with our three cats who I love with all my heart.
Fun Facts
I am a crazy cat lady and proud of it!
On a Saturday you can find me riding my bike, hanging out with friends and going to see a great band.
It might surprise you to know I can still do handstands and cartwheels like a pro.