Who are our Furniture Intensive Instructors? Meet Gina and Philip.

Phillip Shelton and Gina Bonneau are both skilled woodworkers and lead instructors for the Foundations of Woodworking I and II classes. They teach each cohort of students in sequence for the full six-month experience. Shop technicians and a variety of guest instructors usually assist them.

Philip Shelton

Gina Bonneau

Philip has been with PTSW for five years and comes from the fine furniture world. His teaching style is rooted in respecting all the different life experiences students bring when they arrive for a course. By offering many opportunities to see, hear, practice, and explore skills - Philip scaffolds students learning on a truly individual basis. 

Gina came to PTSW three years ago from the carpentry world. She knows how hard and uncomfortable learning new skills can be for adults and strives to create a classroom space “where people feel really safe and comfortable asking all the questions.” She brings compassion, joy, and playfulness to the shop.

What do they love about their jobs? Philip says he enjoys “watching people express themselves and develop their own style of furniture within the forms we teach.” Gina says that she appreciates that both students and instructors are learning in community, together. “It gives us an opportunity to share resources and share ideas and it makes woodworking feel really alive as a craft,” she says.

When asked what they think makes PTSW a special place? The resounding answer is in the different approach PTSW takes. “The curriculum is really based on confidence to make choices and feel safe and empowered in the wood shop, says Philip. 

Gina says, “One thing I really appreciate about my experience working at PTSW is that I feel like from the beginning they’ve been really upfront and straightforward about acknowledging that accessibility to these kinds of skills and tools hasn’t been entirely equitable throughout history. We are having conversations about it all the time at all different levels and trying to figure out ways to actively participate in shifting that around a little bit. Which feels really powerful and really important.”