A cornerstone of EHS’s art education for more than twenty-seven years, Ms. Shelly Colletto embodies dedication and expertise in her craft. Her commitment to the art department matches her passion for exploring new horizons.

Colletto has taught a diverse range of subjects: AP Visual Arts 1, Visual Arts 2, Visual Arts 3, Art 1, 3D Design, Printmaking, and Ceramics. Before joining EHS, she began her teaching career at both John Marshall and James Monroe Elementary schools, teaching anywhere from kindergarten to sixth grade. Colletto’s educational background is deeply rooted in art, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Mason Gross School of the Arts and a Master’s in education from Rutgers Graduate School of Education. She then decided to pursue teaching and furthered her qualifications with a post-baccalaureate program at Rowan University.

Besides teaching art, Colletto enjoys traveling. She sees this activity as a rejuvenating experience that may broaden one’s perspective. Colletto is fond of the personal growth that comes with traveling. She finds it rewarding when she travels, exploring new places and learning about different cultures.

“Traveling is really important because it gives you new perspectives,” she said.

Her own art is often inspired by food and experiences on the road.

“It helps me identify things that make me happy or influence my artwork, it helps my color choices and patterns,” said Colletto.

Colletto’s interest in travel was fostered by her mother, an art teacher, who also believed in the educational value of exploring the world. Their travels began with local road trips and grew to cross-country journeys and trips to Europe. She continues to live by her mother’s words: “travel is your best educator.”

On her travels, she captures memories through watercolor paintings. She paints watercolors of almost everywhere she visits, from the beaches of Arizona to the landscapes of Yellowstone National Park.

The American West, with its vast desert landscape, giant rock formations, the grand canyons, and spectacular national parks, is one of her favorite regions to explore. She was left with a lasting impression in places like Utah and Arizona.

She said, “it’s such a different landscape that it’s great to explore.”

A heartwarming travel memory for Colletto was when her children separately expressed their desire to revisit Venice. It was a shared love of travel throughout their generations that became an experience of bonding, strengthening the values of exploration and openness in her family.

Her visits to places like Egypt and Turkey have provided valuable information about the various cultures. Mrs Colletto stresses the importance of respect during her travels abroad. She said that travelers should be able to appreciate cultural differences.

“When you go into somebody else’s space, you have to understand what the culture is and that there are certain expectations of how you should and should not behave,” said Colletto

One of Colletto’s travel philosophies is to embrace the unexpected and be responsive to the things you don’t plan, “Do the unexpected thing.” This approach has brought her to find unique places, from visiting the Jolly Green Giant in Minnesota to an adventurous trip through Greece.

At home here in Edison, she often sits outside and paints the scenery.

No matter where she is, Colletto’s journeys inside and outside the classroom are an integral part of her identity.