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District Leadership

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Meet the Superintendent

Superintendent Thomas

Mike Thomas
Superintendent of Schools

Brockton Public Schools
43 Crescent Street
Brockton, MA 02301
508-580-7511

Michael P. Thomas proudly began serving as Superintendent of Brockton Public Schools in December 2019 after 26 years in the district.

A 1987 graduate of Brockton High School, Superintendent Thomas grew up on Empire Avenue in the city’s East Side and began his career in 1993 as a physical education teacher at East Middle School. He was also an original staff member of the Boys and Girls Club of Brockton when it first opened its doors in 1991 and started the first summer basketball league at the club in 1992.

Superintendent Thomas oversaw the Phys Ed Department at Brockton High before becoming an assistant housemaster and housemaster at the school. While at Brockton High School, Thomas was part of the committee of teachers and school leaders that collaborated on the famed educational turnaround under the leadership of former Principal Dr. Susan Szachowicz.

Superintendent Thomas became a district administrator in 2010 and served as interim BHS principal and the executive director of operations from January to June 2013. He was tapped as deputy superintendent by Superintendent Kathleen Smith in 2013.

In July 2019, Thomas was chosen to lead the district on an interim basis upon Superintendent Smith’s retirement. The School Committee offered him the full-time role following a unanimous vote in November 2019.

Michael Thomas holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Bridgewater State College (currently Bridgewater State University).

Meet our Deputy Superintendents

Sharon Wolder
Deputy Superintendent of Teaching and Learning

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.

Dr. James Cobbs
Deputy Superintendent of Operations

Dr. Cobbs served as Executive Director of Operations from 2019 to 2022. 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-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. 

Throughout the pandemic, Dr. Cobbs and the Facilities Department staff worked tirelessly to equip every school with the requisite personal protective equipment to keep everyone safe and healthy. His team worked in concert with the Finance Department to responsibly allocate federal funds to the areas of greatest concern, updating our HVAC systems and installing air purifiers at a rapid pace. Jim also helped to bring our transportation services in-house, which will save our city millions over the next decade. 

Dr. Cobbs will take on several important capital projects in the years ahead, including the eventual renovation of Brockton High School.

Central Administration Personnel