Jonathan Farmer

I have a Master's degree in Childhood General Education from Bank Street College. I also have a BFA in Acting from Syracuse University. Before coming to teaching, I spent ten years working as a multidisciplinary artist in New York City, specializing in theatre, puppetry, and photography. My photographs were featured in a YA novel published by Knopf, and I performed at several venues in and around NYC. During that time, I was incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to work with children as a theatre director at Andy's Summer Playhouse in New Hampshire. The joy I experienced with those young artists inspired me to pursue a career as a classroom teacher. I went into education because children's questions endlessly inspire me, and I take great pride in making lasting connections with students and families. I taught in progressive independent schools in New York City for ten years before moving to Louisville with my family in 2020. 

My experience at Bank Street taught me that children learn best by doing and constructing their meaning from the world around them. I know that collaboration and careful listening are the cornerstones of exemplary teaching, and creating a culture of compassion is essential for establishing a vibrant community of learning. I was thrilled to find Chance School because I agree with the philosophy that the classroom is only the starting place for children's exploration--the natural world is the ideal context for active learning and teaching. I believe nurturing a connection with the outdoors is an essential component of understanding what it means to be a human.

The theme study is another element of the Chance program to which I feel a deep kinship. Learning to take action in the real world is the ultimate goal of education, no matter the field of study. As we learn compassion for our community and the world, we understand that we are called upon to advocate and take action on behalf of others.

When I'm not teaching, I love studying words and spending time with my two daughters, exploring the forests, rivers, and lakes of Kentucky.