Thacher Community Celebrates Jeff Hooper
Under a sunny sky and with a gentle breeze in the air that matched the joyful sentiment among Thacher’s on-campus community, Jeff Hooper was formally installed as Head of School on October 6, 2023. He officially assumed duties in late July after serving as both Acting and Interim Head, and graciously accepted his new role from the Board of Trustees after an extensive nationwide search process.
Members of Thacher’s Chamber Singers, led by Greg Haggard, offered a beautiful acapella version of Come From The Heart by the Texas singer/songwriter Guy Clark—a favorite of Mr. Hooper—to open the ceremony.
Board Chair Danny Sonenshine CdeP 1991 praised Hooper in his remarks and thanked Jeff’s wife and Head’s Office Events and Hospitality Lead, Kara, for her extraordinary efforts in the Ojai and Thacher communities.
Tracy Miller, Assistant Head of School and Director of Studies, offered a reminder of Hooper’s resilience and steady leadership: “The confidence, clarity, and excitement we all feel with Mr. Hooper as our new head of school is thanks in part to the many, many tests he’s faced as a leader throughout his twenty plus years at Thacher.”
“Mr. Hooper has the uncanny ability to connect with and welcome all audiences regardless of age, background, or identity,” read Peter Robinson ’24, Thacher’s School Chair, in a series of accolades and tributes submitted by fellow students.
Pecan pralines, a dessert favorite of the Hooper family, was shared with students, faculty, and staff following the event.
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A college preparatory boarding school for grades 9-12
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.