Contributed
In celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week, Florida Paints has teamed up with local artist Danielle Lazala owner of DML Paintings to bring a vibrant, custom mural to life at Longwood Elementary School—creating a lasting tribute to the educators who shape their community every day.
Unfolding throughout the week, the mural is being painted in the school’s outdoor P.E. area, transforming the space in real time as students and staff celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week on campus. The design reflects school pride while adding a colorful, uplifting backdrop for both learning and play.
As part of the collaboration, DML Paintings is donating the mural through her Art with a Cause program, while Florida Paints is supplying all paint and materials—ensuring the project is not only visually impactful, but built to last.
“Teachers give so much of themselves to their students, and this mural is a small way to give something meaningful back,” said Danielle Lazala, artist behind DML Paintings. “Being able to create this during Teacher Appreciation Week, while the school is actively celebrating its teachers, makes it even more special.”
To help preserve the mural’s vibrancy in Florida’s harsh outdoor conditions, Florida Paints is providing products specifically designed for high sun exposure. This includes durable exterior paints along with SunScreen, a clear UV-resistant coating that helps protect bright colors from fading—extending the life of the artwork despite constant sun exposure.
“At Florida Paints, we’re proud to support projects that celebrate teachers and strengthen our local communities,” said Santiago Quintero, Director of Marketing at Florida Paints. “By providing products engineered for Florida’s climate, we’re helping ensure this mural remains a bright, lasting symbol of appreciation well beyond this week.”
School leadership says the mural adds an extra layer of meaning to Teacher Appreciation Week celebrations.
“Our teachers are the heart of this school, and seeing this mural come to life during Teacher Appreciation Week is incredibly special,” said Teddy Adames, Vice Principal of Longwood Elementary School. “It’s a beautiful, lasting reminder of how much they are valued—not just this week, but every day.”
About Florida Paints Paint Made for the Sunshine State Florida Paints is a second-generation, family-owned paint manufacturer proudly owned and operated in Central Florida. Founded in 2012 on a 60-year legacy in the paint industry, Florida Paints formulates its quality interior and exterior paints, primers and other specialty coatings to meet the unique climate challenges of Florida and surrounding regions, ensuring they are weather-tested and expertly crafted for durability. Florida Paints is a resource for every stage of the painting process providing a variety of color, technical and professional services for contractors and homeowners alike. Committed to local manufacturing and with over 24 million gallons of paint produced, Florida Paints has been named “Best Paint Store” by Orlando Magazine and is recognized as one of the largest privately held companies in the region on Orlando Business Journal’s Golden 100 list. Available through 30 company-operated retail stores across the state and a strong independent dealer network, Florida Paints is a rapidly growing company in our region and beyond. Through the “Paint a Brighter Day” program, Florida Paints is committed to supporting local nonprofits and organizations with paint donations that help restore buildings and homes, bring people together, uplift environments and offer hope to those in need. To date, the program has led to approximately 8,000 gallons of donated paint. For more information about Florida Paints, visit https://floridapaints.com/. |
