Dr. Sharon, Director
Dr. Sharon revels in the notion that humans are never just one thing, we are magically multi-faceted, bursting with creativity, and on a hero’s journey to change the world! She is an experienced educator, researcher, administrator, classical musician (violist), entrepreneur, aromatherapist, Reiki master, mother of two, and a committed lifelong learner.
Prior to starting Acton Academy Oshkosh in 2020, Dr. Sharon performed as violist with many symphony orchestras, was a professor of Viola and Music Business at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, and worked extensively as a teacher developing programs for children from ages 2-18 at Montessori and various private schools in Chicago and Madison. Her area of specialty is creativity and arts collaboration. As a researcher and entrepreneur she created numerous arts education programs for youth and adults, a creativity method for musicians, has published articles on education and the arts, and she was an invited TEDx speaker in 2018 with a talk titled Being a Creativity Detective. She loves exploring new projects and learning new skills and in 2024 she became a certified Aromatherapist and started a wellness business called Mantra Moment.
Dr. Sharon has held leadership positions of Creative Director, Artistic Director, and Executive Director for arts organizations and nonprofits where she led meaningful collaborative initiatives with organizations such as the Joffrey Ballet, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Boys and Girls Club. At Acton, she views her leadership work to be a beautiful collaboration between learners, parents, Guides, and our beloved Oshkosh community. She shared “I am fueled by the wonder and curiosity children have for the world. My roller skating inner child and our magical learners are my guides as our Acton community grows together.”
Dr. Sharon is a certified Montessori Primary teacher and earned her doctoral degree from University of Wisconsin Madison and Master and Bachelor degrees in Music and Education from New England Conservatory of Music, Boston. Career highlights include playing with Yo-Yo Ma, touring with Jethro Tull, mentorship in authenticity and creativity from cartoonist Lynda Barry, tackling nerves as a TEDx speaker, and celebrating wonder and challenge at Acton Academy Oshkosh.
To learn more about Dr. Sharon and her Acton journey, explore this interview by Education Reimagined, a national learner-led organization.