Her Story
About Sandra
I have dedicated my career to education and art, working with young children since 2010 and professionally since 2013. I work with infants, toddlers, preschool and kindergarten children, incorporating Montessori philosophy and other child-centered approaches like child play. Speaking English, Portuguese, and Spanish fluently has allowed me to support families and advocate for those whose first language is not English. I am deeply involved in my community, doing voluntary work with the homeless and elderly, and recently joined the Basics of Boston Parent Advisor Council to help first-time parents understand child development. As a professional artist, I have been exhibiting my work throughout Boston since 2013 in both public and private venues, and I am part of the Mission Artist Collective. I also work at Star Market in the Prudential area as a customer service representative manager, where I have been for 22 years and have become well-known in the community. In 2024, I received multiple awards including recognition from the City of Boston and City Council for my impactful essays and work as an educator, artist, and multilingual advocate, with the citation noting that I am now part of the history of Boston. I also received the Sylvia D Community Leadership Award from Union Capital. I have studied both art and psychology, which I integrate into my work with children. My artwork has been featured in various venues including GBH, and I am excited to be displaying my work at City Hall. I have also done photography and won awards for my photographic work. My goal is to help younger children find their passion and talents, just as my high school art teacher Ms. Jane Yacovone encouraged me to pursue my art degree at Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sandra
01What do you attribute your success to?
I was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey. I went to live in Portugal from ages 7 until 17 years old. I was always exposed to diversity communities and I learned multiple languages. I feel happy when I help others, and I was raised by my grandparents in Portugal who taught me that community is being part of family, and we should support and help each other for a better world, for peace in the world. I also believe in the Maria Montessori philosophy, where she believed that we have to start from young age to have a better world by giving children responsibilities and teaching them to be independent and understand consequences. My focus now is children because I want to help them from when they're young to be better people, so they can spread kindness to the world and have a better place and peace in the world, not having people competing with each other but knowing that we can share with each other talents.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
My high school art teacher, Ms. Jane Yacovone, told me I was amazing and incredible at art when I was in AP classes in 2002. She influenced me to pursue my art degree at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. I was doing my artwork and she picked my still life with the wine and glass, my first oil painting, and put it in an art show at Milford High School. That encouragement and recognition, when she told me I was good at art, helped me figure out my passion and calling when I was a teenager still trying to figure things out. Now I want to help younger children find their passion and talents and tell them that they can do it, just like my teacher did for me. My grandmother Maria Almerinda who raised me like my mom. She told to be brave, bold and independent woman. She said me to be strong in USA. She taught me about handwork, determination and persistence. I did not have any support financial or mental from my parents. They are divorced parents. My grandmother motivated me to pursue my college education that I could do it alone. I did it working full time and I was going to college same time. My grandmother Maria Almerinda who encouraged me to be first woman to go college or University in my family.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Community is being part of family, and we should support and help each other for a better world, for peace in the world. I believe in starting from a young age to create a better world by giving children responsibilities, teaching them to be independent, and helping them understand consequences. I want to help children spread kindness to the world and have a better place and peace in the world, not having people competing with each other but knowing that we can share with each other. I feel happy when I help others, which is why I do so much volunteer work and advocacy in my community.
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