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Administration
Kord Jablonski, Interim Executive Director
• 617.916.4558
Bio coming soon!
Development & Communications
Alex Lewis, Development Associate
[email protected] • 617.553.4921
A Boston transplant of 10 years, Alex (they/he) joins the Eliot School following four years working in visitor services at the Institution of Contemporary Art Boston and a 2022 graduation from MassArt. They began their journey in Boston as an AmeriCorps VISTA, first in development, next in marketing, and then moving on to do in-house design for local nonprofits before heading back to school for illustration in 2019. Alex holds degrees in international studies, graphic design, and illustration, and has worked as a freelance graphic designer since 2015. Alex has always believed very strongly in the importance of art to the human experience and the communities we form around it.
Hannah Rosman, Communications Associate
[email protected] • 617.553.4689
Hannah (she/her) is a writer, editor, and recent graduate of Northeastern University where she majored in media studies. Her quest to master media through impassioned and compassionate communication has led her to work experiences in journalism and podcasting, as well as positions at a government office, a nonprofit advocacy group, a communication consulting firm, a student support office, The Boston Globe, and now the Eliot School! She spends her free time consuming copious amounts of media, from sitcoms to social media to Socrates, and occasionally writing about how they make her feel.
Programs & Engagement
Emma Ellis, Senior Manager of Youth Programs
[email protected] • 617.553.1387
Emma (she/her) manages youth engagement programs at the Eliot School Schoolhouse. She is passionate about helping young people grow their talent, confidence, and community through creative practice. A JP-native, she returned to the Boston area after earning her B.A. with honors in Art History from Oberlin College and working as an English Teaching Assistant in Hamburg, Germany. She comes to the Eliot School from Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, where she focused on academic partnerships and community engagement. In her spare time, Emma can be found roaming JP’s parks, cooking elaborate meals for loved ones, tending to her plants, and reading romance novels on her balcony.
Jasmanie Gonzalez, Facilities Manager
[email protected]
Jazz (he/him) was the Eliot School's Facilities Assistant for four years, helping to run the shop and the schoolhouse, before taking over as Interim Facilities Manager in 2021. He also teaches classes through our School & Community Partnership Program and in our schoolhouse. He started woodworking by making small furniture and continues to expand his skills. In his free time, he collaborates with other artists on murals and graffiti projects, including recently at Crimson Jam with Geo and Tak. His mural art can be found at the Egleston Square Peace Garden and elsewhere throughout Boston.
Kieran Pierre, Shop Assistant
[email protected]
Kieran (he/him) is a recent Tufts University graduate with a BS in Biochemistry and four years of hands-on experience in theatrical set construction at the university's scenic shop. Passionate about maker education, Kieran has spent summers at BEAM Camp, a nonprofit focused on empowering children aged 8-17 through self-guided projects. As the Woodshop Specialist, he taught carpentry, maintained tools and materials, and supported campers in their independent projects. His commitment to fostering creativity and skills in young people culminated in a leadership role as Lead Specialist, overseeing multiple shop spaces and handling various camp repairs. Kieran's creative journey began as a camper at BEAM, where he first learned woodworking and welding, igniting his passion for scenic design. He takes pride in maintaining organized, accessible shop environments and looks forward to leveraging his teaching and mentoring experience to make a meaningful impact at The Eliot School.
Lorraine Johnson, Director of Community Education
[email protected] • 617.553.1818
Lorraine’s (she/her) life work centers on the role of culture and the creative industry in advancing equitable human and economic development. She has in-depth experience training, mentoring, and uplifting creative entrepreneurs and makers from sub-Saharan Africa to Boston. Lorraine has built new initiatives and strengthened existing programs across the nonprofit and development sectors. She launched and led Handmade to Market's (formerly Aid to Artisans) sub-Saharan artisan enterprise program, coordinated the UN-Mozambique Culture in Development program under the auspices of UNESCO, and dedicated a decade of leadership at the nonprofit Artists for Humanity.
A Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, photographer, and poet with 20 years of experience living and working across sub-Saharan Africa, Lorraine brings a lived perspective and deep knowledge of the creative sector—from raw materials to markets, and programs to marketing. She values human-centered approaches that are locally grounded, co-designed for lasting relevance, and responsive to our evolving world.
Shivani Bhagania, Education and Engagement Coordinator
[email protected] • 617.553.4684
Shivani (she/her) is originally from New York City. She earned her undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from Quinnipiac University and is currently pursuing a master's degree in architecture at Boston Architectural College. She is passionate about the art and creativity of design and enjoys exploring how innovative ideas can be transformed into functional, meaningful spaces. She enjoys collaborating with others and values the opportunity to learn from people with different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. She looks forward to learning from the experiences and expertise of others to expand her knowledge and find new ways to approach challenges.
Taína Vargas, Teen Programs Manager
[email protected] • 617.553.4796
Taína (she/her) is a mother, artist, educator, and holistic wellness entrepreneur with Afro-Taino roots in Ayiti-Kiskeya (Dominican Republic). Her studio practice centers themes of gender, culture, and identity. She primarily works with photography, printmaking, ceramics, mixed media, and botanical materials. Taína received formal training from Mass College of Art & Design and holds a MA Licensure in Visual Arts (5-12). She has over two decades of experience developing and facilitating Visual Arts curricula for Middle and High School students from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. The socio-emotional well-being of her students centers Taína’s teaching practice, combining mindfulness, wellness, and empowering students to use their creative voice to advocate for themselves and their communities.
Facilities
Rosa Figueroa, Custodian
Rosa (she/her) is a competitive gamer with a specialty in Call of Duty. A single parent of a beloved autistic daughter, she lives on the border of Roxbury and Dorchester. She loves to read and listen to music.
In Memoriam: Charlie Sandler
Charlie worked at the Eliot School from 1966–2012 as Director, Instructor, and Superintendent, and remained on call for consultation until the end of his long life. Charlie was certified in Vocational Education and Industrial Arts and held a Master’s of Education. He taught and supervised teachers at Hubert H. Humphrey Occupational Resource Center, Fitchburg State College, UMass, Roxbury High School, Dorchester High School, and elsewhere in addition to the Eliot School. Charlie stewarded the Eliot School through half a century, infusing it with his warm, inclusive approach to life and work. The Eliot School's wood shop bears his name, and friends are encouraged to contribute to the Charlie Sandler Scholarship Fund in his honor.