School E-Mail Address: maria.garza11@houstonisd.org
I Teach: Art 1, Art 2
Bio: Art Teacher, 5th year teaching in HISD - 2nd year in HSLJ
A Day Conference Period: 8:00am - 9:30am
B Day Conference Period: 8:00am - 9:30am

Hello Students!  I am so happy to be your art teacher and excited to teach at HSLJ. 

I am a Folk Artist.  My art medium is sculpture, acrylics, watercolor, mixed media, crafts, and illustration.  Art has been a part of my life since the age of five.  Every summer I spent traveling to Mexico learning from the local artisans that represented the world of culinary, basket making, pottery, paper, and wood crafts.  Art taught me about culture and how important it is to use our inner creativity; ultimately becoming an integral part of my personality.  I discovered my love for mixed media using materials you normally find in nature with rough textures, colors, and shapes.  One of my sculpture inspirations came from visiting the butterfly sanctuary deep in the heart of Mexico, high up in the mountains just to see the natural butterfly habitat.  What an unforgettable experience.    

I attended the University of Houston and the University of Phoenix and graduated with a Bachelors's in Human Service Management.  I worked in the Oil and Gas industry for 15 years before I became a teacher.  My job experience was in Human Resources -Training and Development.  Overall, I decided to take a leap of faith to become an Art Teacher.  This is my 4 year teaching Art.  In my first year teaching, I was awarded  Campus Teacher of the Year and HISD Art Teacher of the Year.  The following year, 20 HISD Art Teachers were selected to participate in an art installation gallery show.  This program brought many people from our city to learn about our teacher's artistry. 

My passion for art is an abundant journey, learning from travel, artists, culture, imagination, memory, and personal identity is endless.  Providing a strong foundation of the language of art guides students to explore with brilliant materials, ultimately creating their own masterpieces.  

Creatively,

Maria Luisa Garza