TA News

This fall, Thetford Academy teachers are partnering with Dartmouth College students in a Design Thinking course to explore an important question: How might we better understand and incorporate student and family perspectives in our school’s continued transition to proficiency-based grading?

TA’s Design Thinking Team includes colleague coach Becky DiFrancesco, English teacher and Teaching and Learning Coordinator Kristen Downey, special education faculty Amanda Gray, and English teachers Sarah Hancock and Abby MacGregor.

Yesterday, students, parents, and teachers gathered for the first community session to share experiences, challenges, and priorities related to proficiency-based grading. After the session, Abby MacGregor reflected, “I really appreciated that everyone who came to the session was thoughtful and thorough, and I especially appreciated that they came with an open mind. Proficiency-based grading is new, and anything new causes potential anxiety.”

For that reason, she added, “It was great to hear the people there discuss what they need from the process of transitioning to proficiency-based grading to make it feel transparent and clear – without getting caught in that frustration or anxiety about the transition.”

The data collected yesterday and in future sessions will help shape Thetford Academy’s work toward a proficiency-based grading system that reflects and supports our mission and community values. 

Students and families: We want to share information and hear your ideas, questions, and hopes as we move forward together. Please indicate using this form how you would like to participate.

Ways to Participate

• Interviews: A 30-minute individual or small-group interview scheduled at your convenience between October 20 and November 17 
• Monday, November 17, 3:15-4:30: A 75-minute in-person session where we will share next steps.