Thayer names Peter Brooks as an assistant head of school

Thayer Academy has appointed Peter Brooks as its inaugural assistant head of school for academics. 

For the past 12 years Brooks has served in several roles at the Lincoln School in Providence, Rhode Island, including director of both the Upper School and Middle School divisions and teacher of visual arts, ethics, and engineering & design. Prior to his tenure at Lincoln, Peter spent 11 years at Beaver Country Day School where he served as the dean of faculty as well as a department head, teacher, and coach.

“Peter’s wealth of experience as both a teacher and an academic administrative leader will be invaluable in advancing our student-centered curricular and pedagogical work at Thayer with a critical focus on supporting, developing, and celebrating our talented faculty,” wrote Head of School Chris Fortunato P ‘26, ‘28 in a recent email to the Thayer community announcing the hire; Brooks will begin his duties July 1 of this year. 

The position of assistant head of school for academics is a new one at Thayer and has been the subject of a multiyear search process. A previous candidate initially accepted the position but for personal reasons decided to remain in New York with the school she has served for 15 years. 

Fortunato called Brooks, a finalist in that search, an exceptional educator whose background and achievements stood out to members of the search committee. At the Lincoln School, Brooks developed a long-range strategic vision for innovating the school’s academic program; partnered with faculty on the evolution of their 6th-12th grade curricular scope and sequence; and created a new academic schedule. Fortunato said the core of Brooks’ work has been to establish an academic experience that centers on deep inquiry, real-world problem solving, authentic assessment, and interdisciplinary learning while building students’ capacity as 21st century thinkers and leaders. 

Brooks, who earned a bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College and a master’s degree in independent school leadership from the Klingenstein Center at Columbia University’s Teachers College, said he’s incredibly excited to join Thayer and can’t wait to hit the ground running. 

“During the search process, it was wonderful to visit the Thayer campus and to feel, firsthand, the warmth of the community, the commitment of the faculty to the mission of the school, and the resounding love that students have for their Thayer experience,” said Brooks. “The strong student-teacher relationships, the schoolwide focus on community, and the innovative academic program at Thayer are all incredibly appealing to me as a school leader who believes that the most impactful schools are powered by the heart and the mind.”

Brooks said he strongly believes in educating “the whole student” and providing opportunities for students to explore their passions across wide-ranging academic, athletic, and extracurricular areas.

“I look forward to meeting and working with students, parents and guardians, faculty, and staff in pursuit of the exciting academic initiatives that are already in motion at Thayer,” he said. 

Brooks, his wife Erin, and their two children, Nate and Emilie, live in Milton.