Irma Mendoza Gomez
SCHOOL: Skyline High School
PILLAR: Quality Teachers and Teaching
ARTIST STATEMENT
Like many students, there were instances during elementary school when I was not prepared to tackle schoolwork. Instead of unmindful encouragement to do work, one teacher sat and listened. They took out their old copy of the card game SET and patiently taught me how to play. To this day, SET is my favorite card game. This drawing, done with the iconic elementary school medium, colored pencils, displays my fondest memory of elementary school. The few school supplies (ruler, pencil, notebook, and worksheets) are pushed aside to make room for authentic one-on-one time. The corkboard behind them is covered in their students' art to show the importance they place on self-expression. The card game, being slowly taken out of the case, is representative of the time teachers are willing to take to help their students feel comfortable. The colors, bright and solid, are a reflection of the beacon of light teachers can be. One quality teacher in third grade was enough to make me feel valued in school. After losing a handful of games and finally winning one, I was ready to take on the rest of the school day. Schools are the most consistent space kids spend their time; being appreciated and respected there is vital.
