Thornton Academy Postscripts Alumni Magazine Spring 2014 | Page 16

M ID D L E SC H OOL

TAMS: excellence, from scratch

Keith Caldwell ‘97 finds himself on a list of
honorees in Pittsburgh that highlights professionals
under 40 who are helping the city “to become even
more innovative, caring and socially conscious.”
Caldwell is Director of the Bachelor of Arts in Social
Work Program at the University of Pittsburgh
School of Social Work, as well as a board member
of Just Harvest, Program to Aid Citizen Enterprise,
and Advancing Academics.

Middle School science
teacher Ryan Hersey
works with students
on solutions.

No one could have anticipated the growth and success of
Thornton Academy Middle School when it first opened its
doors in 2006. In less than a decade its reputation for
offering challenging and unique courses has spread
across the region, spiking a dramatic increase in
prospective students. Principal Tiffany Robert explains,
“Right now we have more interest than we have spots.”
What makes TAMS so unique? For one, Robert points to
the “the close-knit community of 150 students” that has
kept class sizes small -- an average of 17 students per
class. TAMS’ proximity to the upper school enhances this
welcoming atmosphere, allowing use of library and
gymnasium facilities. Towards the beginning of March, 8th
graders at TAMS participate in a Step-up Day and receive
preparation for the year ahead from guidance counselors.
Robert explains, “The kids have a really good
understanding of what courses they need to be taking

“For a city, [Pittsburgh] really still has a human
element: a lot of connection, a lot of community, a
lot of opportunity to participate,” Caldwell told
Pittsburgh Magazine.

and what to expect at the upper school…they feel so
comfortable on campus.”
TAMS teachers ease the transition by constantly
communicating with their upper school counterparts to
coordinate and enhance curriculum experiences. There
are opportunities for TAMS students who excel in English
to take a freshman Honors English class at the high
school and strong math students may take Honors
Algebra 1, which opens doors early on for students who
wish to take AP classes. Additionally, foreign language for
7th and 8th graders at TAMS is part of ѡ