JOY E. FOX, CEO of Jamestown-based strategic communications firm Clarendon Group Inc., was recently named the chairperson for the Sophia Academy board of trustees. Sophia Academy, based in Providence, is an all-girls middle school that provides a culturally and gender-responsive education grounded in social justice.
How did you first get connected with Sophia Academy? I saw a National Mentoring Month public service announcement about 15 years ago. Sophia Academy was featured in the spot. I still remember my first meeting in the library at the school’s first location on Branch Avenue with Nuala Cabral, the mentor coordinator at the time. Being a mentor was, and still is, a great way to share experiences with students and learn about the Sophia mission.
What are your goals for the school for the upcoming academic year? Our goals as a board for the upcoming year are to continue to spread the word about Sophia’s vision and mission. As trustees, our work is guided by Sophia’s core values of courage, respect, responsibility and peace. Our main objective is ensuring that this amazing school is here to support growth and self-discovery for future generations of girls from Providence neighborhoods. September marks our 20th anniversary, so a major focus this year will be celebrating this exciting milestone and announcing our new strategic vision.
How did the school respond to the pandemic last year? Our families, faculty and staff responded to the pandemic with tremendous grace and resolve. Our top priority was the health, wellness and safety of our community. The team, under the leadership of Maura Farrell, our head of school, with the support of the board of trustees and especially our former chair, Alison Eichler, mobilized quickly to keep everyone safe and to keep learning moving. Our trustees, mentors, supporters and donors, including foundations and our friends in the business community, responded with financial contributions and in-kind donations. We were able to provide every student with a home computer, which was essential to their success. A mentor and her husband generously volunteered to build home desks for students. Our trustees worked to help families navigate economic uncertainty. Everyone stepped up.
How is the school preparing for the new school year post-pandemic? We’re preparing with enthusiasm and determination, and with fingers crossed for a more normal start to the school year. Health and safety are still top priority. Right now, our amazing faculty and staff are excited to welcome all students back to the school for in-person learning. We are eager to get back to our routines and traditions. For example, we can’t wait to resume Taekwondo classes and to be together for Founders Day on Sept. 28. And we intend to keep some elements from last year, especially our outdoor learning time. Our students enjoyed using our outdoor space for science experiments, art and music classes, math projects and shared reading.
