Team Details

Coach Stannard is entering her 2nd season as the Head Coach of the Girls' Varsity Volleyball team. She joined the Academy's volleyball staff in the Fall 2017 season, working with the varsity, JV, and the Middle School volleyball programs. On top of coaching at Thayer the last two years, Stannard has served as head coach of the girls varsity volleyball team at Medfield High School and the assistant boys varsity coach at St. John's High School in Shrewsbury. She has worked with several high school, club, and summer teams across the state on both the girls' and boys' sides; these teams ranged in age from 10-18. She has trained players on indoor, grass, and beach. In addition to coaching, she continues to play year-round in different leagues. Stannard earned her bachelor's degree from Purdue University where she studied International Relations with a certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. She went on to get her master's degree in Nonprofit Management at the University of Connecticut. During her free time, Stannard enjoys traveling, singing, and working in the nonprofit sector through community development.

Coach Stannard is in her 1st season on both the upper school and the middle school volleyball staff. She is a product of Division I Volleyball powerhouse the University of Michigan. She was a walk-on athlete her sophomore year, was awarded a full scholarship, lettered three years and was co-captain her senior year. She graduated with a degree in Industrial Design. She is known throughout southeastern Massachusetts, Florida and Nebraska having coached and played over 35 years at the High School, Junior Olympic Club and Collegiate levels. She was recently inducted into her High School's Athletic Hall of Fame where she holds the record for most earned Varsity Letters at 18. She is also the Head Coach for Braintree High School Boys Volleyball Team.

Amanda Taylor joined the Thayer community in 2016 teaching mathematics and computer science in the upper school. Other than teaching, Amanda very much enjoys being involved in athletics at Thayer. She is an assistant coach for the girls' junior varsity ice hockey team as well as an assistant coach for the varsity volleyball team. Before coming to Thayer, Amanda spent two years at the Noble and Greenough School teaching math, as well as coaching ice hockey and lacrosse.