Jingtong Y.

Illustrator, Art Educator, Interdisciplinary STEAM instructor

New York City

• I never eat McDonald’s after midnight because they don’t serve Filet-O-Fish in my area.
• I have a kayak at home but no car to carry it.
• I have been to Amazon Forest more than one time.

Jingtong Yan is a New York–based illustrator and art educator. She holds a Master of Education (Ed.M.) from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a BFA in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts. She has taught students from early childhood through high school in visual arts and interdisciplinary STEAM learning environments. At the heart of Jingtong’s teaching philosophy is the belief that art is a powerful form of expression. It gives children a language to explore who they are, communicate their ideas, and share perspectives that may be difficult to express in words. She also sees art as a bridge to other areas of learning. The habits students develop through art—including observation, experimentation, problem-solving, and reflection—can transfer to science, engineering, writing, and everyday life. Drawing on her background in illustration, comics, artist books, mixed media, and three-dimensional design, Jingtong creates hands-on experiences that balance clear guidance with creative freedom. She introduces skills through accessible, age-appropriate demonstrations while encouraging students to make meaningful choices and develop their own approaches. Unexpected results are treated as opportunities for discovery rather than mistakes. Jingtong values getting to know each student’s interests, learning style, and individual voice. She especially enjoys seeing a hesitant student gain the confidence to share an idea or proudly explain a finished project to their family. Her goal is to create a warm, inclusive classroom where every child feels seen, supported, and excited to learn through creativity.