Lorena Castaneda

Lorena has been an artistic instructor at Prodigy (UACDC) for the past three years. She majored in art and holds a Master’s Degree in artistic Technique from the Art Institute of Cali, Columbia. She also holds certifications in Digital Web/Graphic Design and Publicity Illustration and Communication. For the past nine years, she has taught Graphic Design, Artistic Techniques, Visual Art, and Art History. “Being a Prodigy instructor is personally rewarding. I know that I have helped a child find or recover their confidence. At the same time, I see them internalize skills that they will use in the future, such as planning, organization, teamwork, communication, acceptance, and tolerance. Something that I always find as magic is the way children discover their creative capacity. I can see the happiness that is reflected in their faces when they are satisfied by their own accomplishments.”

The advice Lorena gives to new Prodigy instructors is:

• Learn, learn, and learn, as much as you can every day about teaching techniques.


• Remove the boundaries.


• Be creative and try to capture their imagination with innovative projects. Use different materials and techniques, and explore new artistic expressions.


• Find new ways to see the world.


• Empower, motivate, and support your students to accomplish their project.


• If you really want them to get involved…make it fun!