The Sharon Academy (TSA) has announced the launch of a capital campaign to raise $2 million to construct a new science wing and make additional school improvements. The Sharon Academy is an intentionally small middle and high school in rural Vermont serving 150 day school students from 20 different towns in the Upper Valley.
“The Leaving a Legacy – Building a Future campaign is about passing the torch to the next generation of students,” said Head of School Michael Livingston. “By adding three new science labs for hands-on learning, TSA’s learning experiences will improve significantly. We also look forward to improving our energy efficiency, which directly addresses the long-term sustainability of both the school and our environment.”
TSA alumni are getting excited about the campaign.
“The idea that we are helping shape the education of generations of students to come is really important to me,” said Abby Dutton, a 2013 TSA alumna and current medical student at Dartmouth College. “With the addition of this facility, TSA will be in a position to better prepare students for careers in STEM fields.”
“TSA is already doing so much that is right,” added Lori Loeb, professor of Dartmouth College’s computer science department, director/founder of Dartmouth digital arts programs, former TSA board member, and TSA alumni parent. “Students develop an appreciation and love of math and science because of TSA’s faculty, who know how to teach creatively and passionately. If these teachers had more space and facilities, students could better carry out their studies.”
The board has already raised $1 million toward the goal, thanks to the Jack and Dorothy Byrne Foundation and Mascoma Bank, as well as several anonymous contributors. The board has set a goal of raising the remaining $1 million by June 30,” noted John Roe, president of the TSA board of trustees. “This project has been many years in the planning,” added Roe. “We expect to begin construction starting in the summer of 2020.”
“It is so important in today’s changing environment to provide the highest quality in STEM learning,” said Livingston. “The science center will be an exclamation point on the evolution of our school, heightening our students’ experiences and allowing the creativity and expertise of our faculty to be fully realized.” The board was excited to support this campaign as a way of honoring the legacy of Michael Livingston who is retiring at the end of the school year. Livingston’s upcoming retirement was announced at the beginning of this year. After 20 years at TSA, Livingston is officially stepping down on June 30, 2020. The Board of Trustees looks forward to announcing the new Head of School soon.
“It is exciting to watch the next big step in the development of The Sharon Academy,” shared Danny Moore, TSA Class of 2009 and Ph.D candidate in Mechanical Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).
To learn more about TSA’s Leaving a Legacy – Building a Future Campaign or to contribute, please visit: sharonacademy.org/donors/campaign.
