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LINDA CONTI: Hill’s Semi-Retiring Beloved Educator, Artist
LINDA CONTI: Hill’s Semi-Retiring Beloved Educator, Artist
By Leonard Shapiro
Anyone fortunate enough to know Linda Conti as a friend or colleague over the years also knew all too well that when she “retired” after 29 years teaching art and so much more at The Hill School in Middleburg, no way would she be kicking back, putting her feet up and resting on her considerable laurels.
The latest honor came her way in November when the Virginia Art Education Association (VAEA) announced that she had been named a Distinguished Fellow, a member recognized for their extraordinary service and contributions to the organization and Virginia art education. She also has been named the VAEA Art Educator for 2025.
According to the VAEA, the Distinguished Fellow designation “recognizes her outstanding contributions to the field of art education….and honors her dedication, innovative practices, and commitment to fostering artistic growth among students and educators alike.
“Anyone who has spent time with Linda quickly recognizes her infectious enthusiasm for art and education,” said Scott Russell, VAEA’s Fellows Nominations Chair. “She lives and breathes her craft, channeling her vast knowledge into vibrant classroom experiences that ignite her students’ creativity. Her innovative culture studies are particularly notable, providing students with meaningful explorations that enhance their artistic journeys.”
And despite retiring at the end of the 2024 school year, true to form, she still has a full plate these days revolving around her lifelong love of art and education.
Even before the current school year began,Hill Head of School Treavor Lord asked her to help out with Hill’s annual three day “culture study”—a schoolwide program that focuses in on a single country, from art, to music, to dance, to history to, politics, to geography and on and on. This year, they’re studying Argentina, and she’s been working part-time with Hill faculty and students to prepare for the event.
“I’m really trying not to work that many hours,” she said, “but it’s great fun to still have that connection and to see and be around the kids.”
And some of her former colleagues, as well.
Conti has already organized regular meetings at her home in Philomont with more than a dozen now retired past Hill teachers and administrators. They meet for coffee, cookies, and plenty of story-swapping. Attendees include Hill Head of School Emeritus Tom Northrup, the man who first hired her in 1996 to what she described as “a part time teaching job, but every time I met with him, he added more hours and gave me raises.”
She’s been diligently cleaning out her home studio, where she has always produced her own art, including her long-time passion—photography. She keeps discovering past unfinished work that she now has a bit more time to revisit, revise and finish. And, oh yes, she’s also volunteering at the Middleburg Seven Loaves food bank, keeping tabs on her four adult children and three grandchildren and of course, staying very active in the VAEA.
Conti has been an active member of the organization for many years in a variety of positions that included serving as regional president before moving on to state level leadership as VAEA secretary, vice president, and four years as president, followed by two more years as a board member.
According to Russell, she has played “a critical role in representing independent schools within the VAEA community. By serving as a bridge between independent art educators and the association, she has effectively communicated the resources available to them, fostering greater inclusivity within the membership…Her unwavering dedication has ensured that the VAEA remains a vital resource for art educators and students alike.”
As a Distinguished Fellow, Conti will join an esteemed group of educators recognized for their exceptional achievements and leadership in the field. Said Russell, “this will enable her to further promote art education initiatives, collaborate with fellow educators, and contribute to the development of future leaders in the arts.”
Her own long-time philosophy of educating her students has always served her well in all areas of her life.
“Sometimes,” she said, “the best thing is to have a spectacular failure. But I’ve always wanted my students to take a chance, and even if it fails, you really do learn. They may have tried this, but it went too far, so let’s go back and try something else. It gives kids some bravery. They know they can take a chance, and they’ll learn the skills to make it right.
“It’s strange being retired,” she added, “but it’s great fun to still have that connection with the school. And I still plan to add to the world.”
For Linda Conti, there could be no other way.
