Faculty and Staff Directory

To search for faculty and staff contact information, please select a department from the menu below on the left. Alternatively, you can use the menu on the right to search faculty and staff using the first initial of the person’s last name.

To reach a member of the faculty or staff via telephone, dial 805-640-3201, followed by your party’s extension.

Faculty & Staff Directory

  • Photo of Justin Arnold
    Mr. Justin Arnold
    805-640-3201 x242
  • Photo of Jason Carney
    Mr. Jason Carney
    Afternoon Program Director, History Teacher
    805-640-3201
    Villanova University - BA
    University of Hawaii - MEd
    Bio
     
    Jason teaches two sections of history, advises junior boys, and chairs the School's Voices and Perspectives Committee. While at Thacher, Jason has served as History Department chair, dormitory head for three dorms, a senior admission officer, and dean of faculty. He has also developed curriculum for many history courses, including Honors U.S. History and Honors Contemporary Ethical Issues. Additionally, Jason has coached the varsity boys’ basketball team since 2002 and,along with receiving league honors, was a CIF Coach-of-the-Year recipient. He lives on campus with his wife, Megan, their three children, and their dog, Bruce.
  • Photo of Megan Carney
    Ms. Megan Carney
    Director of Student Life
    805-646-4377
    Princeton University - AB
    Harvard University - EdM
    Bio
     
    Megan joined the Thacher community in 2001 and since that time has been a dorm head, including the last 11 working with 9th graders in Casa, taught English and psychology, coached cross country, and played a central role in developing programming, policy, and vision for residential life at Thacher. A graduate of Phillips Exeter Academy and Princeton University, Megan went on to earn her Ed.M. from Harvard University and then taught at Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Dana Hall School in Wellesley, Massachusetts, before arriving at Thacher in 2001. Megan and her husband, Jason, love living on Thacher's beautiful campus.
  • Photo of Dana Dwire
    Ms. Dana Dwire
    Executive Assistant to the Head of School
    805-640-3201 x220
  • Photo of Sara Edwards
    Ms. Sara Edwards
    Receptionist/Administrative Assistant
    805-640-3201 x234
  • Photo of Kendrea Hart
    Dr. Kendrea Hart
    805-640-3201 x259
    Bio
     
    Dr. Kendrea C. Hart is the Director of Counseling and Wellness for The Thacher School. She has over two decades of success in promoting supportive learning environments and strong family connections for optimal youth development. As a seasoned school psychologist and mental health consultant, Dr. Hart has provided leadership to schools in developing student support teams, Individualized Education Programs, Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports, and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support. Dr. Hart earned a B.A. in Psychology from Spelman College, an M.A. in School Psychology from N.C. State University, and a Ph.D. in Psychology from N.C. State University. Trained in the scientist-practitioner model, Dr. Hart’s experience includes a research fellowship with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, serving as an adjunct lecturer for N.C. State University’s Psychology Department, and interning with Emory University’s Barton Child Advocacy Clinic. She has extensive experience in developing culturally-responsive approaches to intervention and consultation for youth and brings professional expertise in the areas of trauma-informed practice and resilience, school mental health and wellness, multi-tiered systems of support, positive identity development, and strengths-based ecological approaches.
  • Photo of Jeffrey Hooper
    Mr. Jeffrey Hooper
    Head of School
    805-640-3201 x212
    Trinity University - BA
    University of Texas - MA
    Bio
     
    During his time at Thacher, Jeff has taught courses in Spanish, history, and economics and currently serves as assistant head of school. He is also the head coach of varsity football—having himself played four years of football at Trinity University and then worked as an assistant football coach at TMI—The Episcopal School of Texas in San Antonio, where he also taught Spanish. Jeff appreciates the tightly knit community at Thacher and enjoys the Outdoor Program, whose trips into the Sespe, the San Rafael Mountains, and the southern Sierra have taught him a lot about camping. Guided by his love of Spanish, Jeff has explored Mexico and studied in Latin America. He lives on campus with his wife, Kara, and their two sons, Hayden ’23 and Hiram
  • Photo of Tracy Miller
    Dr. Tracy Miller
    Assistant Head of School, Director of Studies
    805-640-3201 x213
    Mount Holyoke College - AB
    New York University - MA, PhD
    Bio
     
    Tracy is from north of Boston, Massachusetts and graduated from Mount Holyoke College, moving to New York City immediately following to pursue a PhD in English at NYU. While in graduate school Tracy taught for NYU’s English dept. She also worked in the summer programs at The Northfield Mount Hermon School and Phillips Academy, which solidified her interest in teaching at the secondary level. Tracy began teaching at The Webb Schools in 2010, where she held a variety of roles, including most recently director of studies. In her free time Tracy loves the outdoors and spending time with her son Joseph, and husband Jay.
  • Photo of Carly Rodriguez
    Ms. Carly Rodriguez
    Director of Communications
    805-640-3266
    Boston University - BA
    Bio
     
    Carly grew up in New England, graduating from The Governor's Academy and then Boston University with a BS in communications and sociology. She started her career in technology and new media public relations and in 1998 relocated to California, where she transitioned to the field of education. In 2011, Carly joined the Communications Department at Marlborough School, a middle and high school for girls in the Hancock Park area of Los Angeles. From 2011-2021 she oversaw the development of a new visual identity, strategic plan, and fundraising program for the school. In her spare time Carly enjoys biking, hiking, baking, live music, and spending time with her family. 
  • Photo of Susan Wadsworth
    Ms. Susan Wadsworth
    Registrar and Assistant to the Director of Studies
    805-640-3201 x210
    University of Maine, Orono - B.S.
    Bio
     
    Susan has over 30 years of experience working in school administration. Originally from Massachusetts, Susan began her career working with preschool children, eventually opening a childcare center in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. After moving to California, she became the director of a corporate childcare center and then moved on to implement a grant for an afterschool program for the Santa Paula Elementary School District. Then, she was recruited to implement a grant for a “First 5 Neighborhood for Learning” program for the Oxnard Elementary School District. After moving to the Ojai Valley she held the position of admissions director for the Weil Tennis Academy for 10 years. Wanting to spend more time with her children, she opened her own business and focused on project management, bookkeeping, and various independent administrative jobs for a few years. Most recently, Susan held the position of office manager at Chaparral High School for the Ojai Unified School District before coming to Thacher. Susan enjoys spending her free time with her husband, Michal, and her two children, Reid and Remi.
A college preparatory boarding school for grades 9-12
5025 Thacher Road
Ojai, California, 93023
Tel: 805-646-4377 Fax: 805-646-9490 Email: info@thacher.org 
Notice of nondiscriminatory policy as to students: The Thacher School admits students of any race, color, national, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national, and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other School-administered programs.