Spring Break
Family remembers mother, lifelong student who loved kids
By: Matt Woolbright
Issue date: 12/8/08 Section: News
Cancer survivor Sharon Ward, 70, was a graduate student at Texas A&M working on her doctorate in education.
She was lacking a dissertation to finish her degree when she died as the result of a stroke Oct. 13.
"She's been going to school my whole life," said Jennifer Waggoner, Ward's daughter. "She was always trying to further her education."
Waggoner said Ward planned to start a consulting firm for other educators once she finished her doctoral studies.
Ward worked in education for 29 years. She retired from education as Bryan High School's principal in 2001, after which she worked at A&M.
"I don't know about you, but I never wrote letters to my principal in high school," said Pamela Ward, Ward's daughter. "But we found letter upon letter from students over the years."
Pamela said the students who wrote the letters were not the best students, but with her mom's guidance they often became some of the best.
"She helped them achieve things they never thought possible," Pamela said. "She held the vision for them."
One of the characteristics of Ward that dominated her attitude and actions, Pamela said, was her desire to learn her students' names, regardless of how many there were.
"One time, a girl gave [Ward] a note saying that her brother was taking her to the doctor that day. My mom looked at it, but couldn't figure out what was wrong," Pamela said. "Finally, she remembered that the girl did not have a brother. She knew her students so well it was very hard for them to pull the wool over her eyes."
Two of Ward's children went to A&M, and one played football for the Aggies. One of her grandchildren is a current A&M student.
Waggoner said their family has been connected with A&M since the late 1970s.
"A&M meant everything to her," Waggoner said. "She loved every minute of it. She loved the kids and being with them."
She was lacking a dissertation to finish her degree when she died as the result of a stroke Oct. 13.
"She's been going to school my whole life," said Jennifer Waggoner, Ward's daughter. "She was always trying to further her education."
Waggoner said Ward planned to start a consulting firm for other educators once she finished her doctoral studies.
Ward worked in education for 29 years. She retired from education as Bryan High School's principal in 2001, after which she worked at A&M.
"I don't know about you, but I never wrote letters to my principal in high school," said Pamela Ward, Ward's daughter. "But we found letter upon letter from students over the years."
Pamela said the students who wrote the letters were not the best students, but with her mom's guidance they often became some of the best.
"She helped them achieve things they never thought possible," Pamela said. "She held the vision for them."
One of the characteristics of Ward that dominated her attitude and actions, Pamela said, was her desire to learn her students' names, regardless of how many there were.
"One time, a girl gave [Ward] a note saying that her brother was taking her to the doctor that day. My mom looked at it, but couldn't figure out what was wrong," Pamela said. "Finally, she remembered that the girl did not have a brother. She knew her students so well it was very hard for them to pull the wool over her eyes."
Two of Ward's children went to A&M, and one played football for the Aggies. One of her grandchildren is a current A&M student.
Waggoner said their family has been connected with A&M since the late 1970s.
"A&M meant everything to her," Waggoner said. "She loved every minute of it. She loved the kids and being with them."
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