Sophie Middlebrook Hayward ’90
Sophie Middlebrook Hayward is a member of an exclusive club: Burke’s alumna and current parent — daughter Eloise started kindergarten this fall. She also holds a rarefied position as the Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs at the San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development, where she works to make affordable housing possible for city residents with low and moderate incomes. Sophie made her way there through the San Francisco Planning Department, and before that, as an architectural conservator at Jablosnki Berkowitz Conservation in New York City. While she now lives a stone’s throw from the Burke’s campus with her husband, three children, and golden retriever, she initially left Burke’s far behind by heading to North Mount Hermon School in Massachusetts, Wesleyan University in Connecticut, and the University of Pennsylvania.
When you were a student at Burke's, what did you dream you'd be doing at this point in your life?
I am pretty sure that we wrote ourselves letters for a time capsule in Miss Scattergood’s class, and that in mine I spoke to my future self with full confidence that by 22 I’d be married with a bunch of kids, and that I would effortlessly balance raising those many children with a Very Important Job that included a corner office, power suits with shoulder pads, and tons of extra time to allow me to play soccer whenever I wanted to.
What is your favorite international city?
Paris. It’s the first place I traveled without my parents or my sister with me, and it was and remains wildly exciting. It’s where I “discovered” modern art, modern writers, the impact of city planning and historic architecture, cheap wine, black turtlenecks, and couscous.
What are some of your favorite memories of teachers at Burke's?
I have so many — and now that my daughter is a kindergartener at Burke’s, I find that memories pop in my head almost every time I walk on campus. I remember Mr. Bagaman refereeing intense games of tackle football on the front field in P.E. I remember Miss Scattergood teaching us to write a proper five-paragraph essay, and then insisting that we ditch that format and try something more creative. And I remember my kindergarten teacher Miss Collins consoling us when one of our baby chicks — chicks that had hatched from eggs we had watched every day — met an unfortunate end. I’m glad that Eloise has a fish in her classroom instead of a chick.
Who would you invite to your fantasy dinner party and why?
I’d invite Jon Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, and Waylon Jennings to entertain us at what I hope would be a raucous dinner party with these guests: my husband Boe, at least one of the Brontë sisters, Ada Lovelace, Madeleine Albright, Dolly Parton, Marie Curie, Amy Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, Diane de Poitiers, Michelle Obama, and my sister Leah. That’s a lot of brainpower for one table — but with the right food, wine, and music, I think that they could all cut loose, have fun, and teach me a lot.
What advice would you give to a current Burke's student?
Take advantage of all of the amazing opportunities you have at Burke’s! Go tinker in the Makery! Go learn to code! Play on the monkey bars! When you hit a bump in the road — and you will, at some point — seek out the wonderful faculty, staff, and friends that you have standing at the ready to lend you a hand. And don’t forget to come back as an alum to visit, to volunteer, and to participate in the Annual Fund.
I am pretty sure that we wrote ourselves letters for a time capsule in Miss Scattergood’s class, and that in mine I spoke to my future self with full confidence that by 22 I’d be married with a bunch of kids, and that I would effortlessly balance raising those many children with a Very Important Job that included a corner office, power suits with shoulder pads, and tons of extra time to allow me to play soccer whenever I wanted to.
What is your favorite international city?
Paris. It’s the first place I traveled without my parents or my sister with me, and it was and remains wildly exciting. It’s where I “discovered” modern art, modern writers, the impact of city planning and historic architecture, cheap wine, black turtlenecks, and couscous.
What are some of your favorite memories of teachers at Burke's?
I have so many — and now that my daughter is a kindergartener at Burke’s, I find that memories pop in my head almost every time I walk on campus. I remember Mr. Bagaman refereeing intense games of tackle football on the front field in P.E. I remember Miss Scattergood teaching us to write a proper five-paragraph essay, and then insisting that we ditch that format and try something more creative. And I remember my kindergarten teacher Miss Collins consoling us when one of our baby chicks — chicks that had hatched from eggs we had watched every day — met an unfortunate end. I’m glad that Eloise has a fish in her classroom instead of a chick.
Who would you invite to your fantasy dinner party and why?
I’d invite Jon Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, and Waylon Jennings to entertain us at what I hope would be a raucous dinner party with these guests: my husband Boe, at least one of the Brontë sisters, Ada Lovelace, Madeleine Albright, Dolly Parton, Marie Curie, Amy Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, Diane de Poitiers, Michelle Obama, and my sister Leah. That’s a lot of brainpower for one table — but with the right food, wine, and music, I think that they could all cut loose, have fun, and teach me a lot.
What advice would you give to a current Burke's student?
Take advantage of all of the amazing opportunities you have at Burke’s! Go tinker in the Makery! Go learn to code! Play on the monkey bars! When you hit a bump in the road — and you will, at some point — seek out the wonderful faculty, staff, and friends that you have standing at the ready to lend you a hand. And don’t forget to come back as an alum to visit, to volunteer, and to participate in the Annual Fund.