After 15 years, Jasmine Smith will be stepping down from her role as Director, effective September 1, 2026. Maria Chambers-Hutchins will serve as Interim Director for the 2026/2027 school year. During this year, the board will conduct a search and hiring process for a new permanent director.

Smith will transition into the part-time role of ‘Founder’ for the 2026-2027 school year and attributes this unexpected transition to a suite of personal life events demanding time and attention that ultimately make it unfeasible for her to lead TCS with the attentiveness it deserves and requires. It is with deep care for the school and its future that this heartfelt decision was made.

Maria Chamber Hutchins’ possesses the leadership experience and educational expertise to guide the school with strength, clarity, and intention, building upon our experience as a model for Place-based Education. Maria began her teaching career in a small place-based school in NH and in the decades since has taught in multi-age classrooms from rural Vermont to San Francisco, California. Most recently, Maria taught in the Intertidal and Alpine classrooms here at TCS. Maria holds a BA in Liberal Arts from The Evergreen State College and a MS in Environmental Education from Antioch University New England.