District Leadership

Dr. James Cobbs was appointed Acting Superintendent in September 2023. He was named Deputy Superintendent of Operations for the Brockton Public Schools in 2022. From 2019 to 2022, he served as Executive Director of Operations. He also served as Principal of Edison Academy from 2013 to 2021 and Principal of Champion High School and the former BB Russell Alternative School from August 2014 to November 2015. An Influence 100 Fellow, Dr. Cobbs began his career in education in 2001 as an assistant principal, summer school coordinator, and teacher at the Curley Middle School in Jamaica Plain. 

Dr. Cobbs is a military veteran who has held multiple positions in service to our country, including Executive Officer in the U.S. Army Reserve, Major, Commander of an Electrical Power Line Unit, Combat Engineering, Transportation Officer, and Electrician. He also possesses experience as a nursing home executive director, which equipped him with extensive operations experience.

Sharon Wolder was the district's Chief Officer of Student Support Services from 2017 to 2022. She began her career in 1995 as a Social Science/History Teacher at Brockton High School. She became Social Science Department Head in 2002, Dean of the Red Building in 2004, and Associate Principal of Curriculum and Instruction in 2010. Sharon served as principal of Brockton High from 2013 to 2017. She was a key member of the leadership team that led the successful turnaround of BHS and she spearheaded efforts to create a more cohesive academic transition from middle school to high school. 

More recently, Sharon has been the go-to leader for many important initiatives in our district. Prior to the creation of the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, it was Sharon who offered training in civil rights and equity and created the PreK-12 Diversity Education Steering Committee that produced several workshops and resources for the district. She developed and implemented the intervention center at North, co-chaired the Social Emotional Learning Steering Committee, co-chaired the District Crisis Management Tactical Team and provided leadership and guidance to nearly a dozen BPS departments.

Sharon’s background in curriculum development and student support services is truly unique. She possesses the expertise the district needs in a deputy as we address the ongoing impacts of the pandemic and as we move into the implementation phase of our new five-year strategic plan.