Remembering Mrs. Pearson

Alison Pearson

Alison (Frith) Pearson was born on June 13, 1975, in Watford, England. She spent the majority of her life in the UK before relocating to the United States in November 2014. Her move was prompted by her husband Nick’s job transfer to the United States, and she came over with him for a fresh start.

When she first arrived at SNA, Mrs. Pearson began working as a volunteer, helping with Camp Lovewell during the summer. Once she received her work visa, she was officially hired as an elementary school teacher. Over the years, she has taught students from third grade through high school. She taught math, science, history, language arts, health, and even physical education for a period of time. She also helped start many school clubs, including the Banned Books Club and the GSA (Genders and Sexualities Alliances) Club, and she was always involved in school events and open houses.

Unfortunately, shortly after joining SNA, Mrs. Pearson began to experience health issues. She was initially diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2015, but after having part of her stomach removed, she was cancer free for almost a decade. In the fall of 2022, she received the news that she would require a bone marrow transplant due to a diagnosis of aplastic anemia. Fortunately, they discovered that her brother was a 100% match, and she underwent a successful bone marrow transplant in March 2023. 

After receiving her bone marrow transplant, Mrs. Pearson decided to step away from full time teaching. She wanted more flexibility to visit her family in the UK and to travel. For Mrs. Pearson, becoming the school librarian was a perfect fit because it allowed her to stay connected to the school while also giving her more freedom to travel. She and her husband Nick traveled to New Zealand, her dream destination, last winter                                                                                                                                      

Last spring, Mrs. Pearson once again began to experience health challenges, and in June 2025, she was told that her cancer had returned. Even after receiving this devastating news, she remained positive, and she did all she could to fight back against the cancer. When the SNA community learned of her diagnosis, they came together at a “Rally for Ali” to raise money to support her and her family. She was deeply moved by this show of support, and as a result of the funds raised at the rally, Mrs. Pearson’s sister, Pippa Frith, was able to fly over to be with her during her final days.

Mrs. Pearson passed away on Monday, November 10, 2025. She leaves behind a legacy of compassion, courage, and extreme dedication. Mrs. Pearson cared deeply about making people feel welcomed and included. She volunteered at CASA, an organization that supports children who experience abuse or neglect. She loved books, and she worked tirelessly to build up the school library. She organized SNA summer reading challenges, and she brought the Scholastic Book Fair back to the school. She also cared about the environment, and she enjoyed outdoor adventures like hiking, camping, and kayaking with her husband.

Mrs. Pearson will be remembered not only as an educator, but as a mentor, advocate, and a friend. Her impact lives on in every student she has inspired, in every colleague she has supported, and in every life she has touched with her kindness and wisdom. She will be missed deeply by everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.