Remembering Jean Brockway
The Sharon Academy has learned of the death of Jean Brockway on January 11, 2022, and remembers her importance to our school.
The Sharon Academy is deeply grateful for the significant and lasting role Jean played in our formative years and beyond. She was our first Board President and worked tirelessly to lead our fledgling school to success. In retrospect, Jean was a major reason that TSA was welcomed into Sharon. She met with Judy right from the beginning and her support lasted long after her time on the Board came to an end.
Judy Moore’s memories include, “While I was taking the first steps to open the TSA middle school, Jean stepped forward and met with me – to encourage me and to offer her support. She was the Chair of the Sharon Selectboard at the time, and helped me figure out the ins and outs of renting the old school house (and gaining support from the rest of the Selectboard!) and of introducing TSA to the Sharon Community. So when it came time to create a Board of Trustees, Jean was my first thought. She was delighted to step forward and lead us. She came to all our events, and enthusiastically spread the word about TSA. This wasn’t always easy – some Sharon residents weren’t totally convinced there should be another – independent – school. But Jean completely understood and supported the Academy’s purpose of offering alternative education to students needing a different approach to learning. This belief drove her willingness and influence to build positive acceptance among the community… and we see the fruits of her labor today.”
Michael Livingston remembers that it was Jean who set the standard for TSA Board culture. “She was a stabilizing force, advocating for the school to the Sharon community and setting a precedent for board leadership. She was exactly the kind of board president we needed in that chapter of the life of the school, and she was incredibly supportive of me as an individual.”