CCHS has a new ceramics teacher, Ms. Alyssa Vallescora, a vibrant studio art major from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

An artist in high school, she always enjoyed variety in her artwork, leading her to take almost every art course there is to offer. From photography to 3D design, she always kept busy creating something new.

However, plans to teach the art instead of becoming solely an artist were not made until her father one day suggested a change in profession. Since then, Ms. Vallescora has taught art for nine years in four schools, with Cathedral Catholic being her favorite.

“This is the first time I have had my own classroom,” she said. So, a large, luminous studio on the corner of our Guadalupe Center must be quite the culture shock. But that is not the only thing different to our newest in-house artist. Ms. Vallescora stated that our school ,”feels more like a community. Students and faculty aren’t as competitive about their image as the other schools.”

Ms. Vallescora is excited about “creating pieces based on new knowledge.” She will be teaching her ceramics students art history, as well as having them make projects based on what they’ve learned. They will be able to make anything they like with materials such as clay, paper, and plaster.

Also, students don’t have to be good at art to take her class. With apps like the 1,2,3 app, students can do just that. This is an app in which students can virtually make any clay structure they want.

“It is good for bad drawers,” she said. In other words, it will make the class less intimidating for students who aren’t the most skilled drawers. With this app, Ms. Vallescora will teach students how to take their virtual creations into reality.

“Any student can take the course because you will make something that you like,” she said.