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 Bruno.