The best teachers don’t just teach facts and procedures. They leave their marks on students’ minds, inspiring them to think differently and do more. TAHS art teacher Eric Feather has done that and more for several generations of Tyrone students.
Feather has also left a significant visible mark on the school and community through 25 years of annual art shows, murals throughout the school and community, sets for more than 20 years of school musicals and other drama productions, hundreds of video productions and livestreams, decades of classroom projects, and even custom-painted PennDOT snowplows seen on local roads every winter.
After a 33-year teaching career, including 27 years at Tyrone Area High School and six years at Bel Air High School in Maryland, Feather will retire at the end of this school year.
Feather said his interest in art began at a young age, and teaching allowed him to share that passion with others.
“It meant a lot to me growing up, so being able to pass that on to young people felt important,” Feather said.
Feather taught everything from the fundamentals of drawing, mixed media, sculpture, acrylic and oil painting, pastels, watercolors, to art history and video production.
His lessons went beyond technique, encouraging students to see art as a way to understand history, culture, perspective, and self-expression.
Through everyday conversations, strong instruction, and his ability to help students develop technical skills and confidence, Feather has made a lasting impression on generations of Tyrone students, teachers, and staff.
Several of Feather’s students have gone on to successful careers and/or won significant honors in the art world.
Tyrone alum Megan Dale studied design at Penn State and is currently an e-learning designer for the Penn State Department of Nutritional Sciences. She credits Feather with helping her develop her artistic skills and find her career path.
“Having Mr. Feather as a teacher changed my life,” Dale said. “With his guidance, I pursued my art with passion and chose design as my career. In his classroom, exploration was gospel. He encouraged students to explore every medium we could, and showed us how our work could make a real impact.”
“But teaching isn’t everything,” Dale said. “Mr. Feather also showed his students that art could be anything, help anyone, and be the change you wanted to see in your community.”
TAHS alum Lena Walk is a professional artist whose mural work can be seen in many Graystone apartments in the area.
She said Feather taught her many technical skills and helped her believe that she was capable of creating meaningful art.
“Mr. Feather was one of those teachers who truly made a lasting impact on his students. Even today, I still use many of the skills and lessons he taught me in high school,” Walk said.
“What I appreciated most about his classes was that he made everyone feel like they were capable of creating art,” Walk said. “He encouraged students to express themselves and helped each person discover their own style instead of trying to make everyone paint the same way. His classes always gave people the freedom to be creative and think differently.”
Walk said Feather taught his students that art was about more than just technique.
“He taught us that art is more than just painting a picture; it’s a way to express emotions, ideas, and individuality,” Walk said. “I always looked forward to his classes, and I’m very thankful for everything he taught me over the years.”
Altoona artist and TAHS grad Michael Kensinger has won numerous awards for his wildlife paintings, especially ducks and other natural scenes. He gives Feather a lot of credit for helping to build his confidence.
“It’s hard to put into words what someone like Mr. Feather truly means to the students whose lives he helped shape, but I know without question that I would not be the artist, writer, or person I am today without his influence,” Kensinger said.
Kensinger said Feather provides his students with more than instruction.
“He gave me encouragement, direction, patience, and a safe place to grow creatively during some of the most formative years of my life,” Kensinger said. “The art room quickly became a second home. After school, while many people were heading out for the day, he stayed invested in his students, giving us the time and space to explore our abilities and believe in ourselves.”
Kensinger said Feather took him under his wing at a time when he needed someone to recognize and nurture his passion for art.
“He challenged me to improve, pushed me to think bigger, and helped me develop the confidence to pursue goals that once felt out of reach,” Kensinger said. “One of those dreams was representing Pennsylvania on a national level through the Junior Duck Stamp Program, something he played a tremendous role in helping me achieve.”
Many staff members said Feather’s influence will continue to be felt long after his retirement.
“He has a rare gift for making people laugh while simultaneously blowing them away with his intellect and artistic insight,” Tyrone science teacher Bryan Gruber said.
Gruber said he will especially miss Feather’s kindness and daily presence in the school.
“I’ve always loved that he was willing to be a taste tester for any treat I baked, but beyond the food and the jokes, it’s his kind heart and willingness to listen that I’ll miss the most,” Gruber said. “The hallway won’t be the same without him.”
Health teacher Christie Taylor said Feather’s work has enriched the entire school community.
“Mr. Feather has enriched the community by inspiring students to think creatively and push beyond the ordinary,” Taylor said. “From introducing them to the classics in art history, to designing sets for countless high school productions, and mentoring future newscasters on Channel T, his impact is both visible and lasting.”
Biology teacher Beth Cannistraci said Feather consistently found ways to make Tyrone a better place.
“Mr. Feather has had a tremendous and irreplaceable impact on the student community,” Cannistraci said. “Whether he was organizing art shows, painting murals throughout the school, making sets for the play, or painting basketballs for seniors, Mr. Feather would always step up and make the school community a better place.”
Feather’s current students also said his encouragement helped them grow as artists and as people.
“Mr. Feather always encouraged me and checked in on me and my artwork,” senior Jenna Watson said. “He is always willing to help and inspire new ideas. His classes have helped me with patience a lot, especially with drawing.”
In retirement, Feather is looking forward to spending more time with his wife, Tracy, who is also an artist, becoming more involved in his church, traveling, biking, working on house projects, and continuing to create his own art.
Feather is an accomplished artist who sells his work at art shows, galleries, and festivals. He has also created a series of art tutorial videos on YouTube. His wife Tracy’s artwork can also be found on Feather’s website, ericfeather.com. Some of his original works can be seen in the slideshow below.
While students and staff will miss Feather’s artistic talent, many said they will also miss his sense of humor, intelligence, and the genuine conversations he brought to the school each day.
Social Studies teacher and Eagle Eye adviser Todd Cammarata said Feather’s personality made him a memorable part of the school community.
“He has an incredible sense of humor, and I will really miss our morning conversations about art, movies, music, sports, and just about anything else,” Cammarata said. “He is super intelligent and funny. He’s truly a great guy and will be missed.”
As Feather prepares to leave the classroom, he said he is grateful for the students and colleagues who have been part of his career.
“To the staff, thank you for the opportunity to work alongside you and to learn from you over the years,” Feather said. “To the students, thank you for letting me be a part of your lives. And always remember that success in art, like most things, isn’t really about talent. It’s about passion, perseverance, and putting in the work.”
Kensinger said Feather’s legacy will continue through the students who found confidence and creativity in his classroom.
“What made Mr. Feather special was that he didn’t just teach techniques or assignments,” Kensinger said. “He built an environment where creativity mattered and where students felt seen. Looking back now, some of my favorite high school memories happened in that art room. The conversations, the long hours working on projects, the encouragement, the laughter, and the feeling that what we were creating actually mattered. Mr. Feather created that atmosphere, and generations of students are better because of it.”
Click the slideshow below to see some of Feather’s original artwork:
