Social distancing doesn't have to mean social disconnection. Join us for our Spring Social At Home.

The Eliot School opened in 1676 as a grammar school. Inside these walls, we’ve taught classes and enriched the community for almost 344 years. The faculty that we honor this year represent over 135 years of our history in combined years teaching. They have shared their knowledge, skills and hearts with their students, creating and making not only extraordinary works of art and functional pieces of furniture, but also a community. Art sparks joy and connects us. We are proud to call these instructors part of our Eliot School family and celebrate their dedication to craft and lifelong learning.

Now more than ever your support is needed to sustain our mission and the school’s future.

Honor their legacy and support the Eliot School’s work to inspire students of all ages to create, learn and grow.

ABOUT OUR INSTRUCTORS:

PAUL DEVITO - Paul DeVito, Jr. has been teaching upholstery at the Eliot School since the late 90’s. Currently working at Classic Upholstery, he previously worked lead upholsterer for Melo & Sons, and before that for Borges Upholstery and Possick Upholstery. He graduated from Everett Vocational High School, where he majored in upholstery.

NANCY DICK-ATKINSON - Nancy came to the Eliot School as a student of the late Nils Johnson and began teaching framing and gilding in 1995. For her, the Eliot School was just what she needed at the right time and she’s been here ever since. Nancy believes in the Eliot School and its mission and loves sharing her knowledge with her students. “When you teach a technique that is over 500 years old, you have to pay it forward and keep that craft alive. That’s what the Eliot School allows me to do.”

MICHAEL GLEASON - Michael Gleason made custom cabinetry and furniture at his company, Gleason, Hendrick & Devine from 1981 to 2014. Before that, he made custom furniture and did antique restoration with Nils Johnson at A.G. Johnson & Son from 1972 to 1981. He began teaching at the Eliot School with Nils Johnson in the mid – 1970’s and has taught furniture refinishing and repair here ever since, for over three decades.

ROBERT SEIGELMAN - Robert Siegelman is a photographer and printmaker whose teaching is also an art. In addition to the Eliot School, he teaches at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, works with artists privately, and leads workshops and classes throughout New England. Bob has taught painting and drawing at the Eliot School since the mid-90’s.