Strategic Planning Update Spring 2025

We believe that a strong community is built intentionally, and we are taking exciting steps to foster deeper connections on campus. We are reimagining dorm spaces to feel more like home—comfortable, welcoming, and designed to nurture friendships and belonging. New community experiences are being developed to promote relationship-building, ensuring that every student feels seen, valued, and connected.

Listening is at the heart of authentic community. That’s why we are expanding our Community Life Survey to reflect the full Gould experience, and introducing a Parent and Guardian Experience Survey to gain vital family insights.

At the same time, we are creating dedicated Affinity Spaces that celebrate and support the diverse identities within our student body. And because technology shapes how young people connect today, we are actively exploring the influence of digital life on community-building.

We know that community needs are dynamic. To meet them, we are supporting student engagement and resilience through responsive residential programs, and we are updating our community norms to reflect the evolving experiences of today’s students.

Gould is committed to preparing students not just for college—but for life. We are weaving life skills into the residential and community experience, giving students the tools they need to grow into confident, capable graduates.

This commitment is reflected in our soon-to-be-published Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Statement, a living document rooted in action and accountability.

Academically, we are creating a Curriculum Roadmap with clear milestones for developing critical skills across all disciplines. We are also building Ethical Technology Guidelines to teach students how to use digital tools responsibly and thoughtfully.

Innovation is alive in our classrooms. This year, we are launching a Teacher Innovation Symposium where educators will design creative new approaches to teaching. At the same time, we are introducing “Skills Stepping Stones”—a framework that nurtures creative problem-solving across all areas of study.

Listening to student voices is equally essential. Our new Student Feedback System will allow us to capture and respond to learners' experiences more systematically. We are also integrating Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles to ensure every student can access and engage deeply with sophisticated content.

We are guiding students through increasingly complex challenges with carefully mapped "Learning Journeys" and are exploring how our signature Four Point Program enhances experiential learning. Assessment practices are also evolving, with redesigned approaches that value growth through challenges, as well as updated grading and late work policies that provide clear and consistent expectations.

At Gould, learning doesn’t stop when students leave the classroom—it continues on the slopes, trails, fields, and rivers. We are exploring new opportunities to support healthy bodies and minds, and we are reimagining how our athletic philosophy can better nurture holistic adolescent development.

We are also listening to student-athletes by extending our Feedback System to athletics and co-curricular experiences. Facilities like the Kailey Snow Sports Center are helping strengthen the sense of connectedness that is essential to a healthy community.

Partnerships matter too. We are maximizing our relationship with Sunday River, and investing in the growth and development of our professional coaches, ensuring that students benefit from world-class expertise.

Through athletic experiences, we are helping students build physical confidence and develop resilience—embracing setbacks as opportunities for growth. Our athletic and co-curricular programs are rooted in teaching life skills and inspiring stewardship of the natural world.

The strength of this plan lies in the collective contributions of those who shaped it. Gould Academy expresses deep gratitude to the many voices—administrators, alumni, trustees, faculty, staff, students, and families—who contributed insight, experience, and enthusiasm throughout this process.