From the Head of School

Carrie Brennan became the Head of School in 2019. A graduate of Dartmouth College, she was thrilled to return to the Upper Valley where her teaching career launched to lead Vermont’s oldest town academy.

Brennan spent over 25 years in Tucson, Arizona, where she was deeply involved on the founding teams of two new schools – Catalina Foothills High School (1992-2003) and City High School (2003-2019) – as a history and humanities teacher, department chair, professional development leader, and principal.

Brennan’s work as an educator has been widely recognized for its innovation and impact. Career highlights include an exemplary teacher award, a statewide principal award, and the 40-under-40 community leadership award. In 2019, she was named one of Tucson’s “Women of Influence” in the field of education.

At the heart of her practice is the belief that schools are at their best when they are creative and caring learning communities that value human connection and joy, student engagement in meaningful work, community partnerships, and a strong sense of place. Thetford Academy’s positive school culture, student-centered mission, and rich history were a perfect match!

Beyond her day-to-day work leading and learning on the TA campus, Carrie Brennan volunteers as a commissioner for NEASC’s Commission on Independent Schools and serves on the Thetford Historical Society board. In her free time, she is usually outdoors – walking, skiing, skating, swimming, or gardening – embracing each of the New England seasons, or occasionally hunkered down inside with a good book or jigsaw puzzle.

Carrie and her family feel incredibly lucky to live on Thetford Hill, in Thetford Academy’s historic Slafter Hall residence.