Jon White has served as Director of Admission for 10 years at Thayer. Having attended an independent school much like Thayer, Jon's life has been largely shaped by those early experiences. He enjoys talking with young people and their parents and hearing from them about their experiences, interests, and perspectives.


Having taught English, coached soccer, basketball, and rowing, and lived in a dormitory at two boarding schools before coming to Thayer, Jon enjoys his other Thayer "hats." He is a freshman advisor for eight freshman each year, assisting them in their transition, meeting with them weekly to check in and support their endeavors, and communicating with their parents about their progress. For 10 years, Jon has been a member of the Camp Bournedale faculty team, all of whom participate (including two nights in cabins) in the freshman's initial off-campus experience at the beginning of September. In addition, Jon teaches college essay writing seminars to juniors and coaches Middle School intramural tennis in the spring.


When not at Thayer, Jon can be seen at his own three childrens' sports, musical, and recreational activities and events, sometimes as coach, sometimes as spectator, and sometimes as participant. He can be found, too, on the sidelines of his wife Deb's field hockey and lacrosse games, especially when they are up against rival Thayer!

Michael Clarke started working in independent schools in 1970 as an athletic director, coach, and teacher after beginning his career as a social worker following graduate school. Prior to joining the Thayer faculty in 1996 as Upper School Director, he taught history, art history, earth science, sociology, and psychology; coached soccer, basketball, and baseball; served as middle school director, upper school director, college counselor, assistant head, and as head of a boarding school.

He describes schools as "safe, protective places that allow young people to explore the possibilities that await them in the future and begin to discover the pathways they will follow. They are open, accepting, enabling places, where learning is contagious and integrity is the standard. Good schools are places where students find the connection between independence and responsibility. Most importantly, they are places of optimism where student can find success, and Thayer is all of these things."

Bill joined the Academy staff as Business Manager in July of 2005. “Quite a few candidates were interviewed for this position,” said Headmaster Ted Koskores, “and Bill was very clearly the consensus pick, as all who met with him felt he was quite versed in financial principles and practices and well acquainted with the operation of an independent school.” Bill was educated at independent elementary and secondary schools in Ireland, and he earned his M.B.A. at Harvard. Before his appointment to the Thayer staff, he spent ten years as Business Manager at the Chestnut Hill School. Prior to that, he had a varied career in the corporate financial world, locally and internationally, including an entrepreneurial phase. Bill is chair of the business professional development committee for AISNE (Association of Independent Schools in New England). On a more personal note, he volunteers, in his spare time, as a tour guide with Boston By Foot.

After a 20 year career in commercial and investment banking, Mark Gutierrez began a career in independent education in 1992 as a teacher, coach and dorm parent at Eaglebrook School in Deerfield, MA. He later assumed responsibilities for annual giving at Eaglebrook and, in 1997, came to Thayer Academy as Director of Development and Alumni Relations.

"I have enjoyed becoming part of the Thayer community. The strong family ties that bind Thayer and the South Shore help make the Academy the very special place that it is and, just as one family generation supports the next, the Thayer family -- alumni, faculty, parents, grandparents, and many friends of the school -- works together to ensure that today's students have the best experience possible."

When not on the the Thayer campus or out talking with parents and alumni, Mark enjoys time with friends and family in Boston and on the Cape.

Matt graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1997 where he received a B.A. degree, majoring in English and receiving a minor in Education. He also played baseball at UNH and served as a captain of the team during senior year. From 1997 - 2001 Matt taught 9th grade English and was the head varsity boy's hockey coach and baseball coach at Vermont Academy, where he also served on the admissions committee. From 2001 to 2004 Matt was the Assistant Middle School Athletic Director. In 2004, Matt was appointed Athletic Director.

Matt grew up in Norwell, MA and now resides in South Boston, close to family and friends and could not be happier here! His hobbies include fishing, running, and playing music.