Team Details

Steven Branfman has been a coach, advisor, and pottery teacher at Thayer Academy since 1978. He has been an independent studio potter since 1975 and enjoys an international reputation as a clay artist, writer, and teacher. He is the founder of The Potters Shop & School, a gallery, school, workshop, and his studio, in Needham MA. Mr. Branfman’s Raku ware (a pottery technique with its origins in 16th century Japan and the tea ceremony, characterized by fast firing and quick cooling of the ware) in in several museum collections including the American Museum Of Ceramic Art, Museum Of Art Rhode Island School Of Design, The Alfred University International Ceramic Art Museum, and the Mungyeong Ceramic Museum South Korea, and has appeared in more than 150 exhibitions around the U.S. and internationally. He is the author of Raku: A Practical Approach, The Potters Professional Handbook, and Mastering Raku: Making Ware-Glazes-Building Kilns-Firing, and writes regularly for international craft and pottery magazines and journals. Prior to teaching at Thayer, Steven taught in several public school systems and at the college level. He is a sought after guest lecturer, having presented workshops of his pottery forming, glazing, and firing techniques all over the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Europe. "My goals in the design of the pottery program reflect the general philosophy I have towards teaching craft and art... to expose the students to a hands on craft experience, to heighten their awareness of art and craft objects around them, and to educate them regarding artists and craftspeople and their desire, drive, and need to create art and craft objects. Steven is an accomplished acoustic guitar player and singer, and an active skier, cyclist, soccer, and basketball player. He lives in Newton with his wife Ellen and dog, Sidney.

Coach Callum has been coaching with Thayer since 2010, after coaching at his high school alma mater for 7 years, with his focus on boys and girls sprints, hurdles and relays. David earned his Bachelor's degree in Chemistry at Boston University, and a MAT in secondary science education from Simmons University. He has been teaching science and math since 1999, currently instructing in chemistry in the Boston Public School system.  He is a proud father to two daughters, also coaching fall soccer in his spare time.

Coach Callum is a graduate of Phillips Academy, Andover where he captained his indoor track team and earned class and school records including the freshman 300m intermediate hurdles, the all-school record 4x100 which stood for over 20 years, and the junior 300 yard dash which was never broken.  He went on to compete for four years on the varsity team at NCAA DI Boston University, focusing on 100-400m sprints and relays.  Some of his collegiate and post-collegiate running experience includes America East conference finalist, IC4A 4x100m qualifier, Penn Relays, Duke Invite, Raleigh Relays, Sea Ray Relays, Mt. SAC Invite, Long Beach Invite, Pomona-Pitzer Invite, Florida Relays and USATF Club Nationals.

Coach Callum has been coaching track and field and managing track meets since 1998.  Post-collegiately David continued as a player-coach with the Greater Boston Track Club, coaching running events from 55-meters through 3k Steeplechase, with a focus on sprints, hurdles and relays.  Coach Callum has been fortunate enough to work with several olympic and international athletes during his years of club coaching.

Since 2010, David has served on the USATF cross country club national championship site selection committee.  He has also served in several roles on the local and national board of directors, including two years as New England athlete representative, six years as New England track and field chairman, and three years as a national governing board club council secretary.

Coach Callum is USATF Level 2 coach certified in sprints, hurdles, relays, and endurance running, and is a certified USATF coaching education instructor.  As an official, certified by USATF, David has been chief clerk of course at Boston University’s indoor meets since the winter of 1998, while also working closely in many roles with Lancer Timing at Harvard and New Balance meets. Coach Callum has also been selected as a lead official at the New Balance grand prix and NB High School Nationals, as well as at the Penn Relays.  David also directs several meets including the Greater Boston TC Invitational, USATF Youth Invitational, the BU hosted Patriot League Conference Championships, the BU Mini-Meet and the Last Chance indoor qualifier.