Sharon High School Coming Off 'Once in a Lifetime' Year

Earning a and two state teacher of the year honors put in the spotlight last year.

Not matching or topping that success this year won't disappoint Principal Jose Libano.

“While those kinds of very public accolades are going to be very hard to repeat, odds are you don’t repeat. Those are once-in-a-lifetime kinds of recognition,” Libano says.

“Those public accolades are always nice. They bring a lot of pride and energy to the community. That said, there’s plenty happening every day that we can all be proud of. It comes in the classrooms. It comes from the nice gestures in the hallways, and interactions with people. It comes out on the fields.”

The teams using the fields will have a new leader when classes for grades one to 12 start Aug. 29.

New Athletic Director Bill Martin started July 1, succeeding , who retired this summer, ending 11 years. Martin comes to Sharon from Shepherd Hill Regional High School in Dudley, where he taught for 11 years. He also was the physical education, health and family and consumer science department coordinator for the past three years. He served as assistant athletic director for five years before that.

Athletics are “such an instrumental part of the school experience for our students,” Libano says.

“I think Bill is going to bring a lot of exciting new ideas and growth to the department over the course of the next few years,” Libano says.

Concurrently, a Sharon High task force is reviewing the athletic program. The work should be complete by January, Libano says.

A comprehensive review of the school’s library space also is planned this year.

The review will examine “how the digital, print and technological resources are being utilized by our staff and by our students,” Libano says.

“We want to be as up to date and provide our kids with the best resources possible,” he says.

will be a resource for schools statewide this year, as the current Massachusetts Teacher of the Year.

Turner will have a number of professional commitments during this academic year, Libano says.

“I think that’s going to be great for Sharon High School. It’s going to be great for her, and just education in general,” he says.

“Kathy is a fantastic ambassador for the field, and will do a nice job speaking highly of the positive things happening here at Sharon High School, here in our district. Hopefully, that affects positive changes elsewhere throughout the state.”

is the 2012 Massachusetts Outstanding Biology Teacher of the Year.

Dixon will be recognized during the National Association of Biology Teachers conference in October, and the Massachusetts Association of Science Teachers conference in November.

Sharon High will welcome some new teachers this year, filling voids opened by retirements and departures, Libano says.

“We’re excited about what they bring to the school,” he says.

“I’m sure they will serve our students well.”