Our Staff
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 13 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 degree 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 12 years here at the Macomber Center. Denise would also list her Bachelor in History with a minor in Psychology under her 'Other Interests'.
Vanessa Niro
Vanessa joined the Macomber Center staff in 2024 and she is excited to be in a place where children truly have freedom, autonomy, and control of their own education. She has her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from UMass Boston, and years of experience working in early childhood programs, including nature and forest schools. In her free time, she runs workshops helping educators incorporate outdoor play and nature-based learning. Vanessa believes that children learn best with minimal adult interference, the time and space to explore their interests at their own pace, and the opportunity to create and coexist in a community. Her hobbies include playing bass guitar in metal and punk bands and visual arts, focusing primarily on cut and paste collages.
KERRY KILROY
It can be fairly said that Kerry (staff for the past 6 years) can be reasonably described as 'All of the Above'. Kerry is constantly moving and interacting with every member for any project at any time. On any given day at the center Kerry can be found playing Bananagrams, learning a new instrument, walking to the near or far stream (or tire swings, or OG fort, or witches caves, or the big rock, or the old car, or the quarry….), participating in book club, playing capture the flag, playing chess (or any board game), roller skating, Minecraft, tapping/collecting/evaporating for maple syrup, and many many other activities. And on top of supporting and adding to whatever she participates in, she also brings so many new and varied endeavors. Including, but not limited to, worm farming, crocheting, spelling bee, memorizing (with other center members) Pi to 628 digits, plastic grocery bag art, collecting shed fur from her large great pyrenees dog and attempting to spin it and weave it, and gardening. Kerry's other interests are a Bachelor's Degree in Biochemistry, a Masters degree in Nursing, and Sign Language.
James Morningstar
From the moment James walks through the door in the morning, he is highly anticipated and then fully occupied with all manner of art projects in our art room. James's current focus is on fashion and fabric with multiple concurrent projects in weaving, rug making, embroidery, crocheting, sewing and quilting. James' presence is also highly anticipated as his easy manner and connection to the children make him a favorite. James was one of the founding members here at the center. Spending 6 years here before he set out into the world. James's other interests are Bachelor of Arts in Textile Art as well as having works displayed at the Fountain Street Gallery in Boston.
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.
Eli Witkin
Eli is over the moon to have finally landed at a self directed learning center. Having begun his career journey in the world of summer camps and 1 v1 tutoring, he spent the last ten years making his way through wilderness education, coaching, experiential programing, and classroom teaching. He believes that all humans are born curious, with the ability to learn all that is necessary to thrive within their environment. Adults and the structures we impose mainly prove obstacles to natural learning, and end up dimming that innate curiosity. Eli also holds regular communal song gatherings, is a wilderness first responder, and an aspiring sofer (Hebrew calligrapher).