ST. Johnsbury academy HEADMASTER

Dr. Sharon L. Howell

Dr. Sharon Howell became Headmaster of St. Johnsbury Academy in July 2020. Prior to her current role, Dr. Howell served as Head of School at Indian Springs School in Birmingham, Alabama and Associate Head of School for Strategic Planning and Administration at Northfield Mount Hermon School in Gill, Massachusetts.

Before she began her independent school career, Dr. Howell was the Allston Burr Resident Dean in Adams House and Lecturer in History and Literature at Harvard University. During her time at Harvard, she also held positions as Senior Allston Burr Resident Dean and Interim Housemaster in the residential house system, and was an elected member of the Faculty Council.

Most recently, Dr. Howell was part of the National Pilot Team to develop and teach the Harvard online course “Poetry in America: The City from Whitman to Hip-Hop” which was taught in public high schools in cities throughout the U.S. in fall 2019. The course ran in partnership with high school teachers and principals, Harvard’s Division of Continuing Education, and the National Education Equity Lab, bringing college-level coursework and college awareness to students in Title I schools.

Dr. Howell is a poet: she has published a book of poetry called Girl in Everytime, produced a poetry podcast, and served as a Massachusetts Cultural Council Poetry Fellow. 

Dr. Howell holds a Ph.D. in English and American Literature and Language from Harvard University, an M.A. in English from Villanova University, and a B.A. in English from Connecticut College. As a secondary school student, she attended Groton School in Groton, Massachusetts.