Aliza Cantu

Aliza Cantu received her BA in Communications and Masters in Teaching from Trinity University. She has worked in a number of different fields but has focused most of her energy in providing creative learning opportunities for children. Her newest endeavor is a children’s art studio called Paint Paper Scissors, where children can attend classes, field trips, drop in times, and camps.

Additionally, she works alongside three other area educators on a Brackenridge and Basic School grant that provides art education and enrichment opportunities to children in impoverished public elementary schools via intensive teacher workshops and art supply grants. At her own children’s school, Huebner Elementary, Aliza and a partner have undertaken the task of creating a volunteer-based art education program for every child in the school (860 children at present). This project involves cultural education, art education, and general studies enrichment activities and has been very well received.

Some back history: Upon graduation from Trinity, Aliza was hired as a first grade teacher in the North East Independent School district. While at the district, she served as a mentor in the Basic School Program and as the Art Chair for her school. Following her work in the classroom, Aliza became Director of Education of the San Antonio Children's Museum. Here she developed curricula, set museum educational standards, and led a group of talented individuals in carrying out the museum's mission of serving our community.

One of Aliza's greatest joys is to create art pieces with her daughters Sophie and Iliana, and her husband, Willie. Art Together… Art Forever is the result of this relationship.

	Marta Amezquita   Marta Amezquita has been a teacher for thirty-one years. Most of her joy and personal vision, while working with elementary age children, centered on using the fine arts to connect ideas and have an appreciation of language, culture, and the natural world. Marta specialized in teaching the gifted in several Texas districts, and happily spent over twenty years teaching in North East I. S. D. Since 2004, she has taught English part-time at St. Mary's University, and continues to inspire students to bring to life their individual masterpieces. Marta is thrilled to be working with the young artists of Paint, Paper, Scissors!
	Jill Di Giampaolo Jill Di Giampaolo graduated from Trinity University in San Antonio with a Masters in Education in 2002 and immediately started working at Lackland Elementary. She loves San Antonio, despite being a "Yankee" from up north in Pennsylvania. Jill's childhood aspiration was to be a Muppeteer for Jim Henson, her favorite Muppet is Pepe.
	Jennifer Hughes Jennifer Hughes discovered her love for art at a young age, spending summers under the guidance of her grandmother, both an artist and art teacher. Inspired by the beauty of nature, she began to develop her own painting style while completing her degree in Mass Communications and Graphic Design at Texas State University. After graduation, she spent four years in the advertising industry, working as an account executive and brand manager for two different firms. All the while, she always made time to volunteer. While living in Kansas City, she was a volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters and the local art museums. Upon moving to San Antonio, Jennifer became a volunteer art teacher at KIPP Aspire Academy and the McKenna Children’s Museum, and serves on the board of SHARE (Students Help Art Reach Everyone). Jennifer’s love of working with and inspiring children led her to pursue her teaching certification last fall with the hopes of turning her passion into a full-time career of teaching. She is very excited to be a part of the Paint, Paper, Scissors team!
	Rebekah Planto Rebekah Planto is a San Antonio native who recently returned to the area and is excited to be part of the art-making team at Paint, Paper, Scissors! In 2006, she received a B.A. in Individualized Study from New York University (NYU), where her areas of interest included Cultural Anthropology, Visual Art, and Psychology. Rebekah's lifelong passion for art and interest in working with children has led her to teaching art and craft classes at Alamo Heights ISD's "Summer at Heights" programs, at Temple Beth-El Religious School, and now at Paint, Paper, Scissors. She has also worked extensively with children as a camp counselor, substitute teacher, and as a nanny and babysitter, both in San Antonio and New York. As an artist, Rebekah enjoys drawing, painting, collage and experimenting with other media and handcrafts.
	Dawn Tawil Dawn Tawil is an experienced pre-school teacher who has been working with children non-stop since the age of 16. Her degree from Johnson County Community College in Early Childhood was a stepping stone to developing her own way of reaching out to children in an academic setting. She comes to Paint Paper Scissors as both a teacher and a Lead Art Explorer with a creative mind and great rapport with children. She has always loved art and crafting and enjoys sharing these talents with her students. Dawn, and her husband, Nathan, have two young children. In her spare time, she enjoys scrapbooking, photography, computers, and collecting Donald Duck items.