Instructors & Staff
The Institute’s FlowerSchool staff includes seasoned professionals and educators with years of experience and expertise. Here at FlowerSchool students work with real, working professionals who have years of experience in expertise in their field. Meet your instructors:
Calvert Crary, Executive Director, Instructor
Calvert Crary is the Executive Director of both FlowerSchool New York and FlowerSchool Los Angeles, and author of Flower School: A Practical Guide to the Art of Flower Arranging (Nov 2020).
An internationally recognized instructor and mentor, Calvert has taught programs across the United States, Holland, Mexico and Australia, and was this year’s judge for the prestigious PHS Philadelphia Flower Show.
Calvert has trained and coached thousands of students on how to work in the floral industry with top designers, start new businesses, or reorganize existing floral businesses into thriving careers.
Tara Sandonato, Operations Director & Instructor
Tara Sandonato has been a creative force in the floral industry, starting at the early age of 16. She stumbled onto it accidentally and never looked back. Tara has worked for several well-respected event and floral companies in Boston, New York City, San Francisco and Los Angeles as a highly regarded freelance designer. She has traveled internationally using her love of flowers to create beautiful works of art.
After 22 years in the floral industry, Tara has joined FlowerSchool Los Angeles as their Operations Director, to inspire new designers and continue to grow and promote this exciting and ever changing profession.
