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Nineteen years ago, Jean Egan (pictured above) was working as the middle school coordinator for the Boston Public School District, playing an instrumental role in the establishment of a sixth, seventh and eighth grade at the Tobin School. She helped create a combined elementary and middle school that was the first of its kind in Boston.
Now, nearly two decades later, she is starting a new stage in her career with the Tobin School (K-8). As more than 500 students make their way through the doors on Wednesday, September 5, it will also be the first day of school for Egan, in a new office, behind a new desk, and in a new role as the school’s principal. Egan will replace Janet Short, who retired this past June after 19 years of outstanding service and leadership.
“I am ready to take on new challenges and for the school year to begin,” said Egan, who was appointed to her new position in July after serving as the school’s director of instruction for 17 years.
Egan has lived and worked in the greater Boston area her entire life. She attended Boston State College and went on to receive her master’s degree from Northeastern University. In 1997, she received her doctorate in education from Boston University. Egan’s doctoral thesis focused on the Tobin-Brigham Family Support Program. The program is comprised of several key components, including the “Parenting Partners,” “Brigham Book Buddies,” “Take Home Library,” and “Middle School Transition” programs, each aiming to involve parents in their children’s education by building relationships between students and adults. These initiatives are made possible through BWH volunteer support, guidance from the BWH Office for Women, Family and Community Programs and more than $320,000 raised by BWH employees during the United Way/ Tobin School Campaign over the past ten years.
“The Tobin-Brigham partnership is very important to the hospital community, and Jean has been extremely committed to this relationship over the past decade,” said Julie Rabinovitz, program director for BWH’s Office of Women, Family and Community Programs and a member of the Tobin Principal Selection Committee.
Egan is well versed in the BWH-Tobin School partnership. She was one of the original members of a team that met 11 years ago to discuss and explore how an urban public school and an academic medical center could work together to positively impact a community. During those original meetings, Egan wondered what a partnership between BWH and the Tobin School would look like. Now she is in a position to help shape it.
“Despite changes in leadership, the end goal of the partnership always remains the same; the focus is on student achievement and family support,” Egan said. “The people involved are dedicated to progress and passionate about serving the needs of students, teachers, parents and the community.”
Egan intends to build upon the success achieved during Short’s tenure. Working in tandem, both Egan and Short were able to see progress first hand, whether it was the revitalization of neighborhood housing, new literacy and math programs, improved test scores or new partnerships with local businesses and universities.
These changes have brought results. Last June, the Tobin School was one of 26 Boston Public Schools identified as an “Effective Practice School” by Dr. Payzant, superintendent of the Boston Public Schools.
This fall marks the start of the Annual United Way/Tobin School Campaign. Thanks to the generous support of BWH employees, since 1992, the lives of hundreds of Tobin School students have been enriched. Funds have gone directly to support extracurricular programs and the purchase of essential items such as winter coats, eyeglasses and books for families in need.
For more information about the BWH-Tobin School partnership, to volunteer or to make a donation, contact Julie Rabinovitz at ext. 2-5756.