Arts
Visual Arts

Meet the Teachers

Sandi Wood

I’ve always believed that a person’s job here on Earth is to figure out what they are good at and put it to use in the pursuit of helping others. In the Art Department at Palmer Trinity, I truly feel as though I am able to do that. There are few things more satisfying to me as an art teacher than when I hear a student exclaim “I can’t believe I made this!” After helping students gradually build up skill with a variety of techniques until they are producing work at a stunningly sophisticated level, I love to see students surprise themselves with their beautiful output. Nowhere is this more true than in the AP Studio Art course, where students who are seriously dedicated to artistic self-expression commit to a rigorous series of creative challenges. It is my pleasure to help guide my students through the world of self-expression and my privilege as the department chair to create a visual arts program so strong and enriching that it will be to the benefit of the entire school community and draw potential students here to PTS!

Barbara Rivera

I am an artist who wants to share her knowledge of art with everyone. That’s why I love teaching. My artistic philosophy is simple: all students can do it, and they do! I enjoy helping my students realize that every single one of them has so much creativity within, and after realizing this, I help them to bring that creativity out. I then teach them as much of the rules, guidelines, and information behind the making of art as I can. Once they have experienced all of these, they can decide to creatively break the rules. I also believe in exploring art by integrating math, science, history, or technology into my lessons. I love being an Art teacher at Palmer Trinity!  

Alex Porto

My teaching philosophy focuses on students' success through an innovative, safe, and inclusive learning environment. I believe that as a teacher with more than 25 years of experience in the Art Field, coupled with a strong foundation in computer technology, I deliver student-centered lessons that facilitate achievement, both academically and socially. I promote students' success through creativity, self-motivation, and resiliency, preparing them for the fast-paced and ever-changing world.  As an artist, my work is a way of meditation, a way of slowing down time through the careful observation of overlooked slices of my environment and I love creating something new.  It's not just about the end product, I like the journey, whether it is a drawing, painting or a sculpture. I have been an artist all my life, and on this journey, I have found that portraits are my favorite subject matter. My intention is to capture and describe a person’s presence and specific inner self. I portray not only the physical attributes, but more importantly the subject’s inner presence of life. All parts of a whole, telling a story about a human being.
Main Entrance: 8001 SW 184th Street, Miami, FL 33157
Mailing Address: 7900 SW 176th Street, Miami, FL 33157
Main:     305.251.2230
Admission:     305.969.4208