Robert Eder Passes the Torch

Marco Island Academy is known for its small student-to-teacher ratio and interactive learning approach. Past and current teachers would even describe the school as a close-knit family. Marco Island Academy takes pride in their closeness so much that past students end up being future teachers. This year Juliana Pisculli fills the shoes of her former teacher Robert Eder as the new art and photography educator at MIA.

Both Pisculli and Eder had similar beginnings at MIA. They were recommended to fulfill the roles as new instructors by teachers in the same field, packing up their bags and moving back to Marco Island. “I was teary-eyed when Mr. Eder asked me to be the new art teacher because thinking of him retiring was very sad. The fact that he thought of me to take over was a huge compliment,” said Pisculli. 

Eder taught at various schools for the past 35 years, leaving a mark on his students. Many would be surprised, even Eder himself, to find out that teaching art was his calling. “When I was in high school, I didn’t study art or anything like that. It wasn’t until I was working at a diner at nineteen when I met an artist that I became interested. I just thought he was the coolest person I’d ever met, and I wanted to be like him,” recalls Eder. He studied diligently in a college art program to pursue his dreams of working as a freelance artist. You may even recognize some of his work on the ceilings of the Epcot Center in Disney World. From then on, he became the groovy and unique role model he’s known as today.

Pisculli’s journey in the world of art started at a much younger age, being known as the ‘artsy’ student at MIA. Attending both Marco Island Charter Middle School and Marco Island Academy, Pisculli was strongly influenced by her art teachers, Shane Totten and Robert Eder. “As soon as I started taking Mr. Eder, I understood that he was super passionate and unique in the best way. He taught me how to master what I do and gave me a lot of extra one-on-one attention to develop the skills I had,” Pisculli shares. By the time she was in high school, she knew she wanted to pursue art as a career. She focused on art history and painting at the University of Central Florida and landed her first teaching job at an elementary school in Orange County. She gives credit to both Totten and Eder for helping her grow into the person she is today, modeling her teaching style after their personality and relationships with the students. 

Pisculli and Eder agree that their favorite thing about teaching is the personal relationships they build with their students. And MIA has the perfect atmosphere for doing just that. Although it was difficult for Pisculli to leave her life and support system in Orlando, she knew working at MIA was the best decision to further her career. She reminisces on her time as a student at MIA. “You’re more than just a number there. High school is such a monumental age group, and the teachers guided me a lot. They were phenomenal at giving us exactly what we needed when we needed it.” She aspires to be just as in tune with her new students as her previous instructors were with her. 

When Eder recalls his time at MIA, he values the same theme: closeness. “I wanted to continue the family at MIA by reaching out to Juliana to be the new art teacher. I remember her always creating extremely powerful artwork,” says Eder. He appreciates the administration for allowing him to convey his strengths as a teacher, empowering him to be the best instructor he could be. “We’re validated based on what we like to do,” Eder said about teaching at MIA. “That to me is why MIA is different from other schools. Just hanging with the students and doing our thing was the best. I loved going to work.” 

Pisculli can attest to the support she’s received from the administration and staff at MIA. She plans on helping her students express themselves through photography and art. “In the past I was focused on the foundations of art with the younger kids I used to teach. But now I get to focus on using the skills that they have already learned to make things that they want to make,” Pisculli said. She relays that teaching is an ever-evolving process of molding to what the kids need. “Kids are kids regardless of where they are developmentally. They’re going to need you as much as a fifth grader is going to need you. It’s just they’re going to need it in a different way.” 

As the new school year starts, Mr. Eder is sure to be missed. In his retirement, he plans to continue creating for a gallery that represents him in Naples and working as a group facilitator at an outpatient facility. The circle of life continues, and the torch is passed onto Ms. Pisculli who is sure to do justice by MIA. She believes soon enough, she’ll be right on path with Mr. Eder’s legacy.