Educator

Teaching Philosophy

Four Pillars of my Pedagogy

My work as an educator is inseparable from my identity as a Chicano theatre artist, filmmaker, and first-generation college graduate.

I approach teaching as a collaborative, creative practice, one rooted in dialogue, trust, and mutual respect. Like theatre and film, learning only thrives when everyone in the room feels seen, valued, and empowered to participate fully. My goal is to cultivate learning environments where students are not merely recipients of information, but active contributors whose lived experiences, identities, and curiosities are essential to the process.

❋ Servant Leadership

I practice a community-centered model of leadership that prioritizes student growth over authority. My role is to support, guide, and remove barriers so students can thrive, fostering trust, autonomy, and shared responsibility in the classroom.

❋ Collaboration & Dialogue

Inspired by my work as a theatremaker, I treat learning as a collaborative process. I work with the room, allowing curiosity and conversation to shape the experience, rather than enforcing rigid structures that limit engagement.

❋ Cultural Responsiveness

I intentionally center diverse voices, traditions, and lived experiences in my curriculum. By incorporating culturally relevant material and honoring students’ identities, I create learning environments where representation and respect are foundational.

❋ Compassionate Learning Spaces

I prioritize empathy, trust, and human connection. By dismantling hierarchical barriers and modeling authenticity, I cultivate classrooms where students feel safe to explore, fail, and grow—both creatively and intellectually.

  • "Christopher, the students had an excellent workshop with you. We are still discussing some of the strategies you covered and how you talked about playwriting and the creative process. The students also loved your calm presence, your authenticity, and how you talked about guidelines and restrictions for your writing to give yourself challenges that help support your writing process. Thank you again, so much!”

    —Arden Thomas: Theatre Instructor at Sequoyah High School in Pasadena, CA​

    (Theatre of NOTE: Playwriting  Workshop 2024)

  • "Video of Funny Girl drama was an interesting way to tie into the class’s age and interest, and ultimately was very successful... I commend instructor’s ability to think outside the box and to use this “drama” of Funny Girl to discuss the roles of the producers and critics etc. The class really seemed to be grasping and understanding the subject material. The class was also structured in a way that was exciting and fresh. The room did not feel bored at any point. Slides with notes were discussed first, then videos, then comparing/contrasting videos, then a breakout discussion at the end."

    — Karyn Lawrence: Assistant Professor in Theatre Design at Cal State LA

    (Peer Observation for my Introduction to Theatre Course)

    Class Topic: Musical Theatre and its role in the industry

  • "Christopher has brought this program to life in numerous ways, but a teaching event that particularly stands out to me was a one-on-one Zoom editing session that he held with a student this past Spring. The junior had submitted a short play to NOTE and company members felt the writing needed a boost in order to be considered for final production. In spite of his busy schedule, Christopher volunteered to meet with the student and I hung out in the background to make sure the Zoom ran smoothly. By the end of one hour of editing time, not only did the student’s play improve tenfold, it was also clear he felt more confident in the piece. Christopher gave copious notes, but delivered them in such a manner that they did not feel overwhelming or judgemental. A nervous, self-conscious high schooler had received the style of care he needed in order to succeed."

    —Julie Lanctot: Program Director for the Young Writers Program at Theatre of NOTE

Background

 

  • Teaching Assistant: Playwriting (Pasadena Playhouse, Pasadena)

    • Assisted the lead teaching artist in three youth Playwriting programs (grades 4–6), supporting students as they devised, wrote, and rehearsed original performance pieces in after-school settings.

    • Supported emerging writers through drafting, rehearsal, and revision processes, modeling best practices and collaborative rehearsal etiquette.

    Playwriting Division Judge (Role About Festival, Irvine)

    • Evaluated original 10-minute play submissions, providing structured digital scores and comprehensive written feedback.

    • Led in-person feedback sessions and Q&A discussions to mentor emerging high school playwrights.

    • Collaborated with fellow judges to deliberate scoring and select works for advancement in the festival.

    Teaching Associate (Introduction to Theatre: Spring 2025 / Cal State LA, Los Angeles)

    • Developed and taught original curriculum for an Intro to Theatre course for non-majors and theatre minors, covering basic theatre terminology, world theatre history, and production roles.

    • Designed and graded assignments, including tests, homework, and projects, to assess students' understanding of theatrical concepts and their ability to analyze plays.

    • Fostered a collaborative classroom environment, encouraging critical thinking and active engagement with theatrical texts and live performances.

    Teaching Artist: Playwriting (Theatre of NOTE, Los Angeles)

    • Create a curriculum and lesson plan for Playwriting workshops for participating Los Angeles County High Schools with Theatre of NOTE's Young Writers Project. 

    • Create a classroom environment that feels safe and inclusive for all students and staff from an ethnically diverse and culturally pluralistic background.

    • Teach fundamentals of writing techniques (story structure, character development, etc.) and software (Final Draft)

  • CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LOS ANGELES

    (Los Angeles, CA)

    M.F.A. Television, Film, and Theatre (Writing Option)

    CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LONG BEACH

    (Long Beach, CA)

    B.A. Theatre Arts

    CITRUS COLLEGE

    (Glendora, CA)

    A.A.  Theatre Arts