This year marks 10 years of Grow Beyond Grades—and we're celebrating by bringing together many of the educators, students, and thinkers who have shaped our work over the years.

Throughout the 2026–27 season, our podcast and Community Gatherings will feature contributors to a new Beyond the Grade book, scheduled for publication in April. Together, the book, podcast, and gatherings will explore what we've learned from a decade of questioning grades—and where the work goes next.

We're beginning this year with a refreshed board of educators and leaders committed to helping Grow Beyond Grades enter its next decade.

• Michelle Cottrell-Williams, President: 2018 Virginia Teacher of the Year, educator, coach, and scholar focused on equity, belonging, and culturally responsive schools.

• Susan D. Blum: Editor of the book Ungrading and other major works on authentic learning; professor of anthropology at the University of Notre Dame.

• Johanna Brown: Washington state science education leader and former chemistry/computer science teacher advocating for ungrading and liberatory learning.

• David E. Kirkland: Education justice scholar, author, and founder of forwardED whose work centers equity, culturally responsive education, and systems change.

• Chris McNutt: Co-founder and executive director of Human Restoration Project, focused on student engagement, well-being, progressive pedagogy, and systems change.

• Ameena L. Payne: Assessment and feedback researcher at Deakin University whose work focuses on socially just, equitable, and relational approaches to learning.

I’m so proud and humbled to have been able to pull together this committed group of incredible people. In the roundtable post linked below, you'll hear more about who they are, what they bring to this work, and how their experience and perspective will help shape GBG's next chapter.

Meet the board →

Our first conversation of the year tells the remarkable story of New College of Florida, long known for its distinctive narrative assessment system, faculty autonomy, and deeply student-centered approach to higher education. That model has been upended since the 2023 takeover by a board appointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, bringing sweeping changes to the college’s curriculum, culture, faculty, and approach to teaching and learning.

Joining us are four educators who experienced New College from the inside:

• Liz Leininger: Associate Professor and Chair of Neuroscience, St. Mary’s College of Maryland; former New College faculty member

• Rebecca Black: Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Butler University; former Associate Professor at New College

• Jessica K. Young: Assistant Professor of English, Santa Clara University; former New College faculty member

• Jenn Wells: Director of Writing and Director of the Writing Resource Center, New College of Florida

We'll first share their conversation on the Grow Beyond Grades podcast on Sunday, September 21, then bring them together with our community for a live Community Gathering on Saturday, September 26, at noon ET.

RSVP for the Community Gathering on September 26 →

This is the rhythm we'll follow throughout this anniversary year: hear from our book contributors on the podcast, then join them for a live conversation with the Grow Beyond Grades community. You can earn hours of meaningful professional learning just by participating in this year’s podcast and Community Gathering series—all centered on the ideas, practices, and questions shaping the movement beyond grades.

Grow Beyond Grades remains committed to making our conversations, resources, and Community Gatherings widely accessible. Your support helps us produce the podcast, host public events, develop new resources, and bring the forthcoming book into the world. Plus, you may get a podcast shoutout, T-shirt, and/or signed book along the way!

Support Grow Beyond Grades →

Across education, more teachers, researchers, students, and institutions are questioning inherited systems of grading and experimenting with richer forms of feedback, reflection, portfolios, exhibitions, and student-led assessment. There is growing evidence, growing community, and a growing willingness to imagine systems that support learning without reducing it to a number or letter.

In the months ahead, we’ll be sharing conversations with educators and thinkers across this movement, gathering our community around their ideas, and building toward April and the 10th anniversary of Grow Beyond Grades.

We’re glad you’re here for what comes next.

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