Windows of Opportunity: Manteca Seniors Launch J&A Murals

By KATELYNN RORABAUGH
The Tower 

Painted door of Ms. Fast's classroom, entrepreneurship teacher at Manteca High, representing the road to success (Photo Contributed)

It’s often said that your high school years will fly by in an instant. Many don’t realize how true that statement is until their senior year. 

Many are quickly faced with a new reality, a crossroad, a brave step into the unknown: What should they do after high school? 

Manteca High seniors Joy Payler and Alex Sheerer may not have everything figured out, but they do have a running start and a short-term business plan that’ll provide a lifetime of memories for their clients.  

Meet J&A Murals, a grassroots window decoration business.  

It started off with doing murals for only a few small businesses around the high school, like Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory on Yosemite Avene, until Manteca High teacher James Burns requested a mural of his own. 

“I love that they’re doing this,” said Burns, whose window outside Room V206 features iconic media images. “It truly brings the personality of our campus alive.” 

After completing the mural, it was obvious they both gained a spark for it. They quickly started painting murals for other teachers on campus, like business instructor Rachelle Fast and English department chair Sarah Haskett. 

It hasn’t been all smooth strokes, though. 

One obstacle facing their small business is the sustainability of J&A Murals. For the next two years, Payler and Sheerer will attend the same school (Modesto Junior College), allowing them to grow their business.  

After that, though, they’ll be headed in separate ways.  

Sheerer is pointed toward the Chicago Institute of Art. Payler is undecided.  

Multimedia teacher Mr. Burns’ classroom window painted by seniors Joy Payler and Alex Sheerer (Photo Contributed)

The Tower sat down with J&A Murals to talk about their new business and the early success they’ve enjoyed. 

The Tower:
“What will be one of the biggest issues for you and Alex while doing this 

“Distance will definitely be an issue when he moves colleges,” Payler said, “but I'm sure we will figure it out. We always do.” 

Another big issue the two face is having to find new clients when going to a new school.  

“Moving is definitely going to be a big issue,” Sheerer said, “since most of the people we do murals for are teachers that we’ve known for a while, but we’ll hopefully find a steady base over in Modesto.”