Selected New Faculty at SASIC

Mrs. Martinez (Art Department)

Mr. Mario Falcon during a summer meeting at SASIC

In previous blogs I have talked about change over the summer months at the San Antonio School for Inquiry and Creativity, I wanted to take the time to talk about the positive changes happening here right now. Minus the construction, the lesson plans and summer workshops, new professionals are afoot.

To help meet the demand for more advanced technology in the classrooms coupled with our building on SASIC’s already successful arts-infusion learning model-an addition of working professionals and educational faculty have been hired to accommodate these goals.  This influx of staff can be seen in the Urban Film School, the Art Department, the Middle School curriculum, and the 9^th Grade Academy; as well as others.  Each individual brings with them an abundant set of personal strengths, dreams, aspirations, outlooks, and ideas. This can only bring about a great new depth of creative blends for the school.  Let’s take the time to welcome these new staff members and look to them for guidance in the subjects they will teach.

Two teachers that I want to highlight are Mrs. Claudia Peña-Martinez. A graduate of UTSA, Mrs. Martinez will join the Art Department. She holds a BFA degree in Photography with a Minor in Art History.  Mrs. Martinez brings with her a great passion for Fashion Design and Modeling along with a creative streak that drives her to experiment with a wide variety of artistic mediums.  Her passion of photography in no way hinders her exploration of painting, drawings, mixed media, and new media.  She conveys her ideas through whatever inspires her, from pin-hole cameras made out of oatmeal boxes to self-designed artistic t-shirts (running her own website that sells one-of-a-kind and limited edition art designs). Look for Mrs. Martinez to open the year off with dynamic new art projects and explosions of creativity.

For those of you familiar with the Elementary Staff, you might recognize Mr. Falcon.  Rescued from the depths of Elementary hallways, Mr. Falcon has joined the Urban Film School faculty.  He brings with him a passion for music, music videos, film production, directing, producing, animation, and podcasting.  He is one of the youngest Latino Filmmakers to be awarded national recognition from the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery with the Smithsonian Office of Latino Affairs for his 16mm film HorsePlay.

Mr. Falcon is a prolific video director having produced over 30 films, commercials, and music videos.  He is currently contracted at the 1^st Assistant Cameraman for the “Top Chef” TV Series while Hollywood films a segment of their current season in San Antonio.  Look for Mr. Falcon to be a dynamic new addition to the Urban Film School and the unique High School Curriculum.