School Leadership

Chris M. Fortunato, JD, MSW, became the ninth head of school at Thayer Academy in July 2021. A New Jersey native, Fortunato earned an undergraduate degree from Harvard College, a law degree from Harvard Law School, and a master’s degree in social work from Boston University. His varied career includes time as a practicing attorney, a decade of work at a Newton nonprofit dedicated to assisting underserved youth, and experience at Providence College where he served as both dean of students and acting vice president for student affairs. As dean of students at Harvard Kennedy School from 2010 until 2013, Fortunato created the school’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion and appointed the first dean to that office. From 2013 until 2021, he served as head of school at Blair Academy, a boarding school in New Jersey. There, he helped to develop innovative curricula, programs, and services that advance students’ personal and academic growth while fostering a culture of achievement and social responsibility in a diverse, supportive learning environment. Fortunato emphasizes addressing real-world problems and opportunities through collaboration across academic disciplines and teamwork among various constituencies. He and his wife, Erin, have two children, Matt '26 and Katie '28, who both attend Thayer Academy.

Jed Wartman joined Thayer in 2022 as the Academy’s first assistant head of school for student engagement and well-being. Wartman’s responsibilities include counseling, health and wellness education, student health services, advising, leadership development, and service programs. Before his arrival at Thayer, Wartman worked at Governor’s Academy as dean of students, a dorm parent, and boys varsity soccer coach. Prior to that, he worked in higher education for 15 years, including roles at Colby College and MIT. He has also served as an executive coach and consultant for schools and other nonprofit organizations. Wartman graduated from Bowdoin College with a degree in Spanish and education and a focus on psychology. He then earned a graduate degree from the Harvard School of Education. Wartman lives in Braintree with his wife Brynn and their two boys, Micah ‘30 and Theo.

Jeff Dwyer comes to Thayer from St. George's School, where he served as Director of Financial Aid, Boys Varsity Hockey Coach, Coed Varsity Golf Coach, dorm parent, and advisor. After graduating from Yale University, Dwyer signed an NHL contract and played professionally for parts of five seasons. When his playing career was over,  Dwyer transitioned to working behind the bench and coached in the New York Islanders organization as well as in the USHL. While at St. George's, Dwyer earned his MBA from Brown University. Jeff and his wife Kathy live in Marshfield with their two sons Declan and Gordie, their daughter Frankie, and their dog Coco.

As an alumna of Thayer, Melissa rejoined Thayer in the summer of 2014. Following Thayer she attended the University of Vermont where she earned a BA in Psychology. She came to Thayer with more than 15 years of experience in non-profit development. Her previous roles include Director of Development for Partners Continuing Care and the Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, Director of Major Gifts for Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Director of Major Gifts for Horizons for Homeless Children and Director of Major Gifts for Walker. In that time Melissa worked on capital campaigns that resulted in the building of the state-of-the-art new Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Charlestown, a new headquarters for Horizons for Homeless Children in Roxbury and a campus expansion at Walker. Prior to working in development, Melissa worked as a counselor for homeless and runaway teens at Bridge Over Troubled Waters and also sold residential real estate in Boston. Melissa currently serves on the Board of Trustees for AccesSportAmerica, an adaptive sports program for people living with challenges and disabilities. The youngest of four sisters who all graduated from Thayer – Whitney Presutti ’85, Kelley Tuthill ’88 and Tracey Buckeridge ’90 – Melissa often says she grew up here. She spent many of the afternoons of her youth on the fields or in the gymnasiums watching her sisters compete in sports until she was able to enter as a sixth grader. Happy to be back, Melissa currently resides in Hingham with her husband and three children. 

Kristan Gately is the Dean of Students for the Upper School. She oversees all aspects of Upper School student life, including academics, discipline, parent contact, and social events. She is also a member of the History Department, currently teaching AP United States Government & Politics to seniors. She came to Thayer in 2000 and has held a variety of positions since, including history teacher, head swim coach, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade Class Dean, and NEASC Accreditation Co-Chair.

Kristan began her career at Santa Catalina School in Monterey, California, where she taught, coached, and served as a dorm parent. She graduated from Harvard in 1995 with an undergraduate degree in United States History and in 2000 earned her MA from Boston College in World History with a minor in United States Government. Kristan lives in Roslindale with her husband and three children.

Matthew Ghiden started as the Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in 2022. He taught Grade 6 English, Social Studies, and Math at Thayer Academy since 2014 and has inhabited roles as MS Diversity Coordinator, Upper School and Middle School football coach, and Middle School boys lacrosse coach. After graduating from Amherst College, Matthew worked with English language learners in Concord, New Hampshire. He earned his Master's of Education from Harvard University. Matthew is originally from Dorchester and now lives there with his family. His hobbies include listening to music, writing, and hiking.

Galen Hamann returned to New England in the summer of 2020 after serving as the Assistant Head of School at Virginia Beach Friends School. Drawn to the strong sense of community at Thayer, she is focusing on the age she loves most: Middle School. Hamann, who earned a bachelor of science degree from Earlham College, began her career as a Middle School Spanish teacher, coach, and advisor at Friends Central School in Philadelphia. After earning her master’s degree in education from Saint Joseph’s University, she moved to Moses Brown School in Providence. During her 13-year tenure there, she served as the Director of Service Learning and Director of Friends Education; she also taught religion, developed and taught a medical ethics course, coached track and basketball, and served on both the wellness team and the administrative council. While working at Moses Brown, she completed a master of divinity degree at Harvard University, where she focused on spiritual care and became a board-certified healthcare chaplain. Hamann currently serves on the Portland Friends School Board of Directors. Hamann lives in Braintree with her wife Jayme and their three young children: son Jackson and twin girls Maya and Madeleine.

Maureen Sullivan Keleher joined Thayer in 2002 as a teacher of Latin and English. Having earned an undergraduate degree in Classics-Latin from Harvard College, Maureen started her teaching career at Belmont Hill, then moved to San Francisco, where she worked as a residential coach and job coach for adults with intellectual disabilities. Maureen taught at The Branson School in Marin County, and earned her Masters in English from Middlebury College before returning to Boston in 2002, when she started teaching at Thayer. With a love of growing young people with competence, confidence, and connection, she has taught Latin and English and been an advisor and dean at every grade level. With a passion for service, she started the Special Olympics Young Athletes Program and Fr. Bill’s program at Thayer. In her free time Maureen enjoys reading, hiking, and writing. Maureen lives with her family in Waltham. Her four children attend Thayer.