Biography
Gerald Obregon has been an art teacher in the Miami-Dade County Public School system since 1998. He was part of the Magnet Art Program at Norland Middle School from 1999 – 2010 and the Visual and Performing Arts Academy at Robert Morgan Educational Center from 2010 - 2012. At the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year, he became a member of the faculty at Arthur and Polly Mays Conservatory of the Arts, a magnet school focused on the different artistic disciplines for grades 6 – 12. In 2017 he became an adjunct professor at Florida International University in their Art Education Department.
He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. After earning his BFA, he worked at a number of different jobs including graphic design for small press printing companies and running a comic book / collectibles store.
While working in the comic store, many of his young customers would often bring their renditions of Wolverine and Spider-Man or other super heroes. He would always take the time to praise their work and show them how to improve on what they had done. It was during this time that he realized that he was being a teacher to those kids. He decided then to continue his education and pursue a degree in art education. In 1998, he graduated from Florida International University with a Masters of Science in Art Education.
Gerald’s philosophy of art education is that students will work up to expectations if the bar is set at a high level. Throughout the years, that philosophy has resulted in tremendous success for his students both locally and nationally. In 2014 he was given the Skevy Ralis Art Education Award of Honor (Middle School) by the Dade Art Educators Association. In 2017 he was awarded Middle School Educator of the Year by the Florida Art Education Association. He was recognized as the 2015 and 2018 Teacher of the Year by the faculty and staff at Arthur and Polly Mays Conservatory of the Arts.
In addition to teaching, he is an emerging artist who has had his work exhibited in shows around the state of Florida in Miami, St. Augustine, Melbourne, Sarasota, and Stuart. He has also had his work displayed in galleries around the country such as Colorado, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina. These shows have provided experience and recognition which encourage him to seek new venues for his work.
He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. After earning his BFA, he worked at a number of different jobs including graphic design for small press printing companies and running a comic book / collectibles store.
While working in the comic store, many of his young customers would often bring their renditions of Wolverine and Spider-Man or other super heroes. He would always take the time to praise their work and show them how to improve on what they had done. It was during this time that he realized that he was being a teacher to those kids. He decided then to continue his education and pursue a degree in art education. In 1998, he graduated from Florida International University with a Masters of Science in Art Education.
Gerald’s philosophy of art education is that students will work up to expectations if the bar is set at a high level. Throughout the years, that philosophy has resulted in tremendous success for his students both locally and nationally. In 2014 he was given the Skevy Ralis Art Education Award of Honor (Middle School) by the Dade Art Educators Association. In 2017 he was awarded Middle School Educator of the Year by the Florida Art Education Association. He was recognized as the 2015 and 2018 Teacher of the Year by the faculty and staff at Arthur and Polly Mays Conservatory of the Arts.
In addition to teaching, he is an emerging artist who has had his work exhibited in shows around the state of Florida in Miami, St. Augustine, Melbourne, Sarasota, and Stuart. He has also had his work displayed in galleries around the country such as Colorado, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina. These shows have provided experience and recognition which encourage him to seek new venues for his work.