Marple Newtown Patch is featuring great teachers in the Marple Newtown area who deserve some spotlight. Teachers give a lot to their students, schools and studies and we'd like to recognize them and say a simple, thank you, for all that they do. This educator has been in the industry for two decades, spreading his passion for all things art.

Name: David Sigel

School: Episcopal Academy

Grade/Subject: Upper School Studio instructor & Visual Arts Department, Chair

Years in the Industry: 20

Teaching Background: Gould Academy, Bethel, ME, Upper School Studio Art (one year), The Fessenden School, West Newton, MA (13 years), and EA for 2007-present, and co-founder and director of Summer Art at the Cotuit Center for the Arts, Cotuit, MA (2007-present).

What do you like most about your job? 

Sharing my passion for art and watching the students light up as they discover their creative voice.

Why did you become a teacher? 

Because of my teachers and my parents, who supported my dream and trusted my path and believed in the person I become.

What do you like best about your current school (projects, programs or activities that your school is a part of):

The school has allowed me the freedom to develop a strong visual art program and the talent and commitment of my colleagues. The art department members are amazing.

This year has been a year of collaboration and innovation. The Fall gallery exhibit was developed through the efforts of our gallery coordinator and the English and Visual Art Departments to create an ever-morphing and evolving show which included a visiting artist also shaped around the idea of text-based art. The title was "Word." This was a successful show because of the student involvement and the constant flow of students, of all levels, entering and contributing. Next year the Visual Art Department will be working closely with the Science Department.