TA News

Carrie Brennan, the founding principal of an innovative public charter school in Arizona and an accomplished educator, has been named the next head of Thetford Academy. She will assume her new position on July 1, 2019.

“I am absolutely thrilled that Carrie will lead Thetford Academy,” says Ann Bumpus, President of the Thetford Academy Board of Trustees. “Her record of accomplishment and commitment to academic excellence, inclusivity, community engagement, and collaborative leadership builds perfectly upon the historic and distinctive values of TA that draw so many of us to the school. I look forward to working closely with Carrie in her new role.”

With many excellent candidates applying for the TA leadership role, the Board of Trustees chose Ms. Brennan last week, citing her record as an education thought-leader as well as her dedication to individual student success. The Board also was impressed with her commitment to collaboration and her experience in fundraising, communications, and community partnerships.

Currently the executive director and co-founder of CITY Center for Collaborative Learning in Tucson, Arizona, Brennan has been recognized repeatedly for her contributions as an innovative educator and community leader. In 2008, during her twelve-year tenure as principal of City High School in Tucson, she was named to Arizona’s Circle of Honor, an award recognizing the state’s top 1% of school principals. In 2006, Brennan was named one of Tucson’s “40-Under-40” community leaders.

Brennan also has long-standing ties to the Upper Valley. A 1988 graduate of Dartmouth College, with a major in History and minors in Education and Women’s Studies, she did her student teaching at Hanover High School and subsequently taught there from 1988 to 1990. Brennan received her Master of Arts in Education from the University of Arizona in 2001.

“I look forward to becoming the next Head of School at Thetford Academy,” Brennan says. “TA is such a vibrant place to teach and learn, thanks to the dedicated faculty, community support, school culture, active student body, and rich history. It will be a special honor to take on this leadership role during the school’s bicentennial year.”

Brennan succeeds William Bugg, who has served as Head for the past seven years. Bugg announced last year that he would step down after leading the Academy through its Bicentennial celebration this school year. This summer, he and his family will be relocating to the U.S. Virgin Islands, where he will become Head of School at Good Hope Country Day School in St. Croix.

“I’m delighted to pass on the Head-of-School torch to Carrie Brennan, an exceptional educator whose expertise and education philosophy align beautifully with TA’s mission and values,” says Bugg. “A superb teacher, skilled administrator, and really solid person all around, Carrie will bring strong and compassionate leadership to Thetford Academy and the Upper Valley, a place she already knows well. I look forward to working with Carrie over the next five months to ensure a smooth leadership transition and continuity for our school.”

Brennan’s selection was the culmination of a six-month, comprehensive and nationwide search. The twelve-member search committee, which comprised faculty, students, staff, alumni, and community members, was chaired by TA Board of Trustees member Giovanni Bosco.

“The committee had the challenging task of choosing among many very-highly-qualified applicants,” says Bosco. “It was very important to our selection committee that we consider many perspectives in our decision-making process, which we accomplished through both community forums and meetings with TA staff, faculty, and administrators. The process was really a team effort, and I am so grateful to have had such a dedicated group of individuals to help guide the selection process.” Bosco continues, “We are so thrilled to have Carrie Brennan join us as our next Head of School. Carrie will bring many unique skills and new energy to help TA continue to grow and thrive.”

Brennan currently lives in Tucson, AZ with her husband and fellow educator, Michael Mann (who was a student-teacher at TA in 1989), and their two sons. “My husband and I are thrilled to be returning to the Upper Valley, where we launched our education careers three decades ago,” says Brennan. She and her family will relocate to Thetford in July.