BrewsterConnections - Brewster Academy

in Manchester and at Easthampton High School,
in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts.
Hamilton worked as the executive director
of Kids Voting New Hampshire Inc., a youth
development organization, and she founded
the Capital Area Student Leadership Program
(CASL) for high school sophomores.
Clearly recognized as an active member of her
community, Hamilton and her husband were
named Distinguished Citizens of the Year in
Concord in 2004.
Not only has she been active by contributing
to her community, she also has always been
physically active. An athlete all her life,
Hamilton did not start running road races until
she was about 42. Then for more than five years,
she became nationally ranked as number one in
her age category for the 5K. “I love racing, and I
still miss it today,” Hamilton said.
them “tremendous changes in education,”
referring to those in the disciplinary realm,
faculty and student retention, technology, the
leveling of the classroom, team teaching, and the
Emotional Literacy Program.
“Students are really getting into more places
and being able to attend the colleges and
universities of their choice.” Hamilton also
praised Brewster’s athletic department, saying,
“All of the students are in programs in which
the coaching is far superior.”
When asked “What’s next” Hamilton laughed
and said she is always pursuing projects. She
still works with CASL and is on the scholarship
committee for Concord Hospital.
She is always involved in education somehow.
“What it will be now, I don’t know, but it will
be something. Maybe I will go back to school
myself!”
Welcome, Karey Fix
Brewster parent Karey Fix of Chicago has
joined the board of trustees. She and husband
Bob are the parents of Keenan ’13 and Will,
who graduated from Brewster in May. Karey
previously taught at a private elementary
school in Winnetka, Illinois, before beginning her
own business, Fix-Tex: a line of high-end hand
painted fabric and furniture.
She was actively involved in Keenan and Will’s
elementary school, chairing the school’s primary
fundraiser for eight years. She has served on the
boards of The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago,
Lincoln Park Zoo, and Rush NeuroBehavioral
Center and has been an active participant of the
Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation.
In a recent interview, Hamilton spoke about
her time as a member of Brewster’s board of
trustees. She addressed some of the changes the
school has experienced during this time. “It was
a very different scene in 1974,” Hamilton said.
She highlighted the implementation of
technology as a positive change. “We were
really a leader in that area.” She also spoke
about the Brewster Model as a significant shift.
Hamilton was on the selection committee for
now Head of School Dr. Michael Cooper. She
said that choosing a new head of school was a
long process and that the board made “a terrific
decision.” She commented on Dr. Cooper’s
steady progress and the “significant, intelligent
changes” he has brought about. Hamilton called
Hamilton stressed the crucial role education
plays in her life. “Education is a very important
thing for me,” she said. “I am really concerned
about what’s happening in public schools. These
kids (Brewster students) are really lucky to be
able to go to a private school and to learn how
to be good citizens and contributing ones.”
Hamilton learned about being a contributing
member of society at a young age. After
attending Springfield College and the
University of Maine, she was travelling into
the inner city of Toledo, Ohio, and Springfield,
Massachusetts, at night by herself to work with
individuals from all walks of life. “I really had a
good perspective on people from all categories
of wealth.” She is confident that this kind of
experience – contributing to one’s community
– benefits one’s growth and development. She
encourages young people to start early with this
kind of involvement.
Always fascinated by education, Hamilton
continues to expand her mind and is currently
reading a book about language and how it
begins as she watches her baby grandchild
begin to navigate the world of language.
“In today’s age, it is very rare to find someone
like Helen, who selflessly devoted 37 years as
a trustee to an institution. Her guidance and
wisdom will be missed,” said board president
Dan Mudge. “We will continue to treasure our
long-standing friendship with Helen.”
LIVE LEARN LEAD
18 BrewsterConnections – Fall 2011