Wallace Middle School art teacher Adrienne Simes proved during Spring Break that a love of art is a universal language.

During Spring Break in mid-March, Simes joined former Negley Elementary art teacher Amy Cigainero in Brazil where they taught art to a small group of students in Rocinha, a local favela, or a low-income neighborhood, in Rio de Janeiro. Cigainero left Hays CISD two years ago to teach elementary art in Rio.

While visiting Cigainero, the duo opted to continue their pursuit of offe...