We were pleased to welcome the new St. Johnsbury Academy Headmaster Dr. Sharon Howell to our club and community on July 27, 2020. Dr. Howell officially started at SJA on July 1st and is the first woman headmaster to serve in this role.
The meeting and presentation were recorded and can be viewed here.
Dr. Howell and her husband, Tom, each drove a 26 foot moving truck from Florida to Vermont and arrived on June 30th. Even with quarantining for 2 weeks and social distancing measures, she has felt welcomed to the community and is excited to be here. She joins our community with her husband, Tom and children, Maggie and Ethan. Tom is an artist and jack of all trades. Ethan is entering his senior year at SJA and joined the school this past spring. Maggie is an incoming Freshman at SJA.
Dr. Howell provided us with information on her transition to the headmaster role, including joining the alumni events in Florida just before the pandemic hit. She shared that her transition has happened over many months, especially in light of the planning needed due to the pandemic. She has worked closely with former Headmaster Tom Lovett and could not speak highly enough about the leadership team at SJA and the extensive planning that is taking place.
Dr. Howell provided a general overview of the current plans for in person school to start at SJA on 8/31, as well as the health and safety protocols in place. Learn more at the school's website here. She recognized the collaborations happening with the St. Johnsbury School and Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital with planning and health measures.
Dr. Howell is grateful to be here and part of our community. She shared, "I've never seen a school so embedded in the community. I love it!" She sees that the town and school enjoy mutual benefits because of the strong relationship and spirit of collaboration. She wishes she could jump right out and meet people, and will look forward to the days when that is possible.
We welcome Dr. Sharon Howell to our community!