The 2024-25 school year has brought a wave of new teachers, including Ms. Valente–one of the newest art teachers. Before starting her teaching Journey Ms. Valente earned her undergraduate degree at Savannah College of Art and Design. There, she earned a BFA in graphic design and a minor in Architectural History(completely by accident). From then on she attended Grad school at Boston University, where she earned a master’s degree in art education; she described the hybrid program as transformative in her journey being surrounded by like-minded individuals.

She began teaching in New Orleans in 2009 through an organization following Katrina when art was unavailable in public schools after the Storm. She’s taught a wide range of grade levels from third to twelfth grade in most New Orleans public schools–the previous school being Edna Karr. 

Her favorite medium is Prismacolor pencils applied to Masonite–she has a portrait done by a previous student of hers using Prisma color pencils. Additionally, she has a multitude of hobbies–creating art–including her being a runner since high school and quilting, also dabbling in the art of Crocheting. 

Ms. Valente looks toward each day as it’s unpredictable and every day is something new, nothing ultra-specific but seeing what students create and learning about everyone’s talents, she’s interested in observing how students navigate challenges in Class given different problems. Let’s give a warm welcome to Ms. Valente!