Retiring ski coach leaves a legacy of success and inclusion
Amy Brooks is closing a chapter marked by devotion to her students and her athletes.
After nearly two decades at Acton-Carlisle High School, Amy Brooks is retiring from her roles as math tutor and multi-sport coach, closing a chapter marked by devotion to her students and her athletes.
As head coach of the Alpine ski team, which she took over in 2020, her philosophy of inclusion — the no-cut Alpine program has grown to nearly 80 athletes — stands alongside the squad’s triumphs on the slopes.
For Brooks, though, the plaudits are just part of the story.
“Success could be getting down the bunny hill successfully, or surviving your first slalom course, or winning a state title,” Brooks says. “Each achievement is celebrated equally on our team. My father taught me that the accolades you’ve received and knowing you did your best are reward enough. That’s why I look at my kids with pride and say, ‘That’ll do.’”
That doesn’t mean a lax approach once the team hits the slopes.
In 2025, Brooks and her coaching staff were recognized as Boston Globe Alpine Coach of the Year. This season, the boys team captured the Mass Bay West Ski League championship for the third consecutive year and finished second at States, while the girls placed second in the league.
Since joining CCHS in 2007 after being named an All-America soccer player at Bates College, Brooks has coached basketball, soccer, softball, and Nordic skiing, as well as working with students in the school’s Math Resource Center (MARC).
Athletes and parents alike offer glowing praise for Brooks.
“Getting four grades of skiers to not only interact with one another but to become real friends is no easy feat,” senior Sophia Annunziata says. “Brooks has created a culture that makes everyone feel comfortable interacting with any person on the team. It seems daunting to see the signup list of so many students, but once the season starts, she makes it feel like a small, close-knit team.”
Anne Remington, whose children Theo and Delaney both skied during Brooks’ tenure, says: “Kids love her, and she’s done a lot for inclusion and development of kids who just want to try participating on a team. All are welcome.”
Juniper Flint, elected captain for next season, says Brooks “believes so much in each individual that it gives her an astonishing ability to develop confidence in her students and skiers.”
Sophia applauds Brooks’ all-around impact: “[She] treats every student like what they have to say matters. She is not only a tutor in the math room but a mentor and coach.”
Brooks has been dividing her time between Acton and coastal Maine, where she will relocate once the school year ends. As for the future: “I am considering tutoring on Zoom or possibly getting involved with the high school up there,” she says. “I’m not committing to anything crazy just yet.”
As she winds down her time at CCHS, Brooks reflects on her legacy: “I’m most proud of the fact that kids have felt comfort and safety in the MARC and on the sports teams. They have been able to grow into who they are as individuals.”
