Tag Archives: Tom Lea Elementary School

The Active Learning Framework came to life in beautiful Downtown El Paso last week when the Tom Lea Elementary School Bulls visited the El Paso Museum of Art.

The students, under the guidance of art teacher Christina Sordini, got a one-on-one lesson on ceramics from artist Philip Romero. As part of the exercise, the students even got to create their own pottery.

Sordini said students used their math and science skills to make Active Learning connections to art.

Active Learning, according to EPISD officials is where “Teachers engage students in problem based learning by designing grade appropriate challenges that allow students to explore a number of possible solutions.  As students work, teachers help them to refine their solutions as they ready for presenting their work to peers.”

The visit to the museum ended with a guided tour of the exhibits, with an emphasis on augmented reality art, impasto, African-American prints and French salon-style paintings.

Of course, the students were also thrilled to view original art from the campus’ namesake, El Paso legendary artist Tom Lea.

Original story by Gustavo Reveles  |  Photos courtesy of Tom Lea ES

Children’s book illustrator Michael White drew more than creatures during his visit to Tom Lea Elementary School on Monday.

The “The Library Dragon” illustrator — who is visiting five EPISD elementary campuses this week to talk to students about the power of ideas — also elicited tons of laughs from students who waited patiently to hear funny stories and see amazing pictures.

“The biggest thing I want to teach them is to have the confidence level to do this. I want to show them I had all these hurdles I had to go through to become a children’s book illustrator,” White said. “It’s really about them, and how art can take them in so many different directions.

I am honored to be here in El Paso drawing with the students.”

White showed the students how he uses an airbrush to create his illustrations, letting them draw their own versions of his characters and using fun puns to create ideas for stories.

“When you add to these ideas they can become a story,” he told students. “All you have to do is put your ideas on paper and keep practicing.”

Lea librarian Lisa Gailey was ecstatic to have White presenting to the students.

“We were excited when we heard the District was bringing him to our school,” she said. “It’s awesome that he’s here because it will help inspire a lot of the students that love art and reading.”

Fifth-grader Ethan Gutierrez was excited to meet the illustrator and show him his own artwork.

“It’s great because I like drawing my own comics, so I wanted him to see them,” Ethan said. “He said I should keep drawing and working at it because that’s how the author of ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid” did it. It made me feel good because that means I can make a career of this doing something I love.”

White made students laugh with his drawings, interjecting with useful tips as he went along. 

“The biggest hurdle for most artists from fifth-grade to college is they think they have to get it perfect,” he said. “I learned you don’t want perfect. You want my idea, which is formulated into a book.”

Student Briana Sanchez liked hearing about his journey in becoming an artist.

“I think it was cool to see what he wanted to do in his life,” she said. “It was fun to draw with him and meet him. I feel thankful he came to our school.”