Meet Our Staff

There are seven staff at Macomber Center, and together we cover a wide range of knowledge, experience and skills. We make available the resources – people, information, tools – that our members need to pursue their interests. Most of all, we give them the time, space and trust to take control of their own education.

Ben Draper

Our Executive Director is Ben Draper. Ben grew up in a self directed educational environment. Confronted with the eventual decision we all need to make about what to do with our lives, Ben decided to create a place where children are free to follow their own paths, continue to love to learn (as that is innate), and be themselves. Ben has been our executive director for the past 12 years, since the opening of the center. Ben not only brings his guiding philosophy and his lifetime of experience to the center but his passion for the idea that children are not unmolded adults, that they are human beings with just a bit less experience. Ben's natural connection to the members is invaluable. His discussion of any subject with any child at any time provides a needed, loved, and rare foundational resource. Ben would list his MFA from The Boston Museum School and his Fellowship from MIT in his 'Other Interests' section, as well as having his work displayed at the MFA.

Denise Geddes

Denise is the centers' Administrative Director. Denise is not only one of the founding staff but has been the foundation upon which the center has been built. Denise is at the center before it opens and doesn't leave until everyone has gone home. Her knowledge of and daily attention to every single member that has ever come through the doors of the center is also invaluable and irreplaceable. On top of Denise's daily administration work she still finds time to photograph life at the center daily, cook large group spaghetti meals, and check in on every member every day. Denise has also had a lifetime of experience within the larger self-directed education community with 24 years of experience as staff at the Sudbury Valley School in Framingham and then a full 11 years here at the Macomber Center. Denise would also list her Bachelor in History with a minor in Psychology under her 'Other Interests'.

mark bell

Mark is our first Staff Emeritus! After 10 years at the center, Mark retired in 2022 to the great sadness of all who came to love him as a stable presence at the Macomber Center. Mark spent years creating movies (Space Thieves, 171 episodes), plays, improv classes, so so much music, and most notably our annual Winter and Spring shows. These music shows allowed many children to perform anything they came up with, as well as letting at least as many children participate in something they normally would not have. Mark was in the inaugural class of the Sudbury Valley School in 1968, went on to graduate, and eventually became staff there. Mark has had the kind of life that whole books can be written about, including books he wrote himself (Once A Rocker Always a Rocker: A Diary & I Gotta Rock), being a chef, circus entertainer, and lead singer of the verified rock bands Thundertrain and The Joe Perry Project.

dan dick

Dan has been staff at the center for the past 11 years. Between his time on staff at the Sudbury Valley School and coming to work at the Macomber Center, Dan unschooled his two children and was heavily involved in the Boston unschooling movement. Dan's immense musical knowledge and ability has been the cornerstone of so many of our members’ introduction to and continued love of music.  His seamless ability to play a tune from ear, support a child's musical exploration, and unmatched ability to just be supportive (emotionally, musically, intellectually, academically) are rainbow unicorn unique (rainbow unicorn is also a game that Dan can be found playing at any time).  One of the most amazing things is the multiple times we have seen Dan trace the circle from a child's mind to their instrument to their heart, and back again. And if this wasn't enough Dan is also our resident mathematics and test taking guru.  These are only a few ways that Dan has been such a big part of how the center has become what it is today.  Dan's other Interests are a Bachelors Degree in Anthropology,  a Masters Degree in Teaching, a Certified Teacher (in Illinois), and 12 years as a founding member of Outrageous Fortune, an acoustic vintage jazz and blues trio.

JAMES STYLE

James is our resident outdoorsman and then some. For the past 10 years James has been offering everything from marine biology and Latin classes to extreme Lego building and bananagram playing, as well as many outdoor organized activities, including wilderness survival skills, orienteering skills, camping skills and rock climbing. Seeing James taking kids on 5 mile hikes, playing long games of capture the flag & ultimate frisbee, book club discussions, D&D, debate club, mushroom hunting, birdwatching as well as many other activities are all common occurrences. James's presence can be felt as just plain comfort to members and staff alike, his ability to truly listen being a fundamental part of who he is. Two of James's many other interests are a Bachelor's Degree in Marine Biology and Former Wilderness EMT.

Matt Kilroy

Matt Kilroy is at the center 5 days a week and loves every minute of it. Matt’s love of 2x4 carpentry has found its way into the center over the years in the form of bookcases, step stools, bike ramps, shelves, tables, and helping construct the music room itself. Matt truly enjoys working through the design and execution of any fix-it project with members of all ages. His natural people and organizational skills are being put to use with all manner of field trips, events, and shows. Matt will enjoy, with equal enthusiasm, moving large rocks, reading “The Lorax”, playing ultimate frisbee, installing shelves, playing chess, physics, wordle/crosswords/spelling bee, and just purely being a part of and support to the community. Matt’s other interests are a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry as well as previous EMT training.