Gallery • 2 Photos

Juliette Othon

Mrs. Vazquez’s family’s beloved dog, Luna, was also painted onto the mural.

As Charter starts off the 2024-2025 school year, there is a missing piece. Full of talent, creativity, and joy, Lorraine Vazquez passed away suddenly over the summer due to a brain aneurysm. She has been with the Charter system since the school opened. Many teachers and students have felt the absence of her presence heavily along with the darkness of the hallways in which her smile used to light up. Mrs. Vazquez made Pembroke Pines Charter High School and M101 a special place filled with color and happiness. Although this special person has been taken away from Pembroke Pines Charter High School and those who love and adore her, she has left her legacy. Her beautiful energy, laugh, and artwork continue to inspire and bring light to everyone across campus, especially our Charter art teachers.

“She was a huge encouragement when I was struggling with this job and would always check in on me right across the hallway during passing periods. When I had decided to leave the school for a while she gifted me one of her paintings which has a sweet, meaningful note on the back and I still have the painting. Seeing the mural in the hallway done for Mrs. Vazquez makes me feel bright and happy. As shocking as her death was and still is, this painting is a reminder that some things are out of our control and we don’t know why and we try to figure it out but, the world keeps on moving. It reminds me to find beauty in sadness. Vazquez loved what she did so much and it inspires me to love drama and what I do even more.”- Ms. Sanford

“After everything that happened, it was really difficult to even walk into M building. Everything reminded me of her. After spending time with her amazing family, I realized that, even though she is not physically here with us, so many parts of her – live on, including her teaching philosophies. In her former students, in us, her colleagues and of course her children… and I knew that I couldn’t give up. I had to continue honoring her by caring for our students, teaching them to have integrity as artists, just as she did. All the things she values, I try to remind myself every day, to emulate and pass it on.“- Mrs. Negron

“Working with Mrs. Vazquez was one of my favorite things about working at this school. Losing her was like losing my right arm and working with Lorraine was part of the everyday routine. Lorraine was great at her job and everyone could see how much she cared about what she did and about the students. She was really good at developing relationships that brought out the best in the kids. She was always positive and looking for ways to improve and grow. Her smile, happiness, and joy was coming through all the time, and going forward I would always want those qualities to be at the heart of what I do and in my teachings.”- Mr. Foreman