Written by: Mackenzie Watkins, Editor
EDUCATOR: Ms. Perdroza is a new staff member here at Poly looking forward to a year full of incredible students creating incredible art.
This new 2023-2024 school year has Poly looking better than ever, with new staff full of Poly Pride. One of these new members is Ms. Pedroza, who teaches Draw/Paint 1 and 2 as well as Digital Photo 1. This school year will be one for the books and Pedroza cannot wait to be a part of it.
Before teaching at Poly, Pedroza taught for three years at San Jacinto High School and two years at a private Christian school. During those five years of teaching art, she knew she wanted to come back to educate the youth in her hometown of Riverside. “My dream when I got into teaching was to eventually work in the community I’ve grown up in, to be able to interact with and give back to my own city,” Pedroza stated. With Perdroza’s love for art and her love for Riverside, Poly’s art education program lies in good hands. But where did this love for art come from?
“I was always more creative as a child. I would have much rather been given blocks or crayons or something like that then Barbies,” Pedroza stated. Then as she got older she “always had a sketchbook in hand” wherever she went. “I had family members that would draw with me and get me supplies so I just had support all around me,” Pedroza stated, which is what she tries to bring to her students. “In high school I took an AP Art class which inspired me to study art in college,” Pedroza mentioned. Which is how she got to where she is today, sharing that love and passion with others, so that one day she can inspire other bright young minds into pursuing a career in art.
Pedroza’s passion for art motivates her to educate students on the wonders of the subject. “Personally my favorite art to teach is portraiture. That can be frustrating for some students who have never drawn before, but it can be incredibly rewarding,” she stated. Art is a class where students are at varying levels of skill, which Pedroza recognizes and understands. “Anytime I have a student connect with the material or genre is a rewarding teaching moment. All I need to see is that you are trying and putting in an earnest effort,” she mentioned. Educating students on a subject that can be challenging is a difficult task for any teacher, but Pedroza loves it. “My favorite part about teaching, with high schoolers in particular, is that I get to connect with my students. High school is such a unique part of life and it is neat to be a part of that,” Pedroza stated. With the new school year, that leaves plenty of time for building a repertoire with a variety of students throughout the campus while also creating time for establishing goals.
Back to school season is an opportunity for both students and teachers to establish goals for themselves in order to have an incredible year. One of Pedroza’s goals for the 2023-2024 school year is for “every student to leave having created an artwork they are proud of.” Another one of these goals is an exciting new possibility for the art education program at Poly. “I would like, if at all possible, to get students to work out beyond the school’s campus,” she stated. It looks like Pedroza has exciting goals for an exciting year.
This new 2023-2024 school year is full of many opportunities for lots of fun, laughter, as well as learning. Pedroza is certainly an important addition to this and is “happy to be here at Poly.” This school year will definitely be one to remember and Poly is lucky to have new members to its amazing staff like Ms. Pedroza.