Forever

Forward

2025 STRATEGIC PLAN

Our Moment
Extraordinary things are happening at Thayer.
Students, educators, alums, families, and supporters are engaged like never before. There’s an added sense of excitement in our hallways and across our community; a sense of possibility, of momentum–a sense that we are about to embark on the next chapter of a remarkable journey.
That sense is more than just a feeling—it’s a fact.

Thayer is in an undeniable position of strength, thanks to a strong foundation built over nearly 150 years. That foundation has allowed us to work together to adapt and respond to an ever-evolving educational landscape. Today, we can proudly say that Thayer is ready to face the future with confidence.

Now is our moment to affirm our strengths and build on our legacy to chart a bold path forward. A path where Thayer leads the way in offering an education that is responsive and forward-looking; one where students engage with diverse people, ideas, and opportunities so that they may rise to honorable achievement and contribute to the common good.

Our Principles
As we move forward, we’re guided by five principles of a Thayer education. These statements clarify not only what we value, but how we achieve our goals. We strive to be a school where:
  • Relationships matter most.
  • Innovation drives excellence.
  • Real-world engagement and service are essential.
  • Effective communication is paramount to success.
  • Diversity strengthens learning, achievement, and our mission.

These five principles run throughout our strategic plan and will shape the ways we turn our initiatives into reality.

Just as the traditional singing of “Thayer, Thayer Forever” at Last Chapel marks the beginning of a bright future, so too does Thayer Forever Forward. With a profound appreciation for the best of our school’s history and culture, and with a commitment to continue building on Thayer’s incredible momentum, it’s time to move forward.

Our Process

We engaged our entire community throughout the strategic planning process. Beginning in the fall of 2023, working groups composed of faculty, staff, and trustees convened to discuss key parts of the Thayer experience–people, program, campus, and finances–sharing their expertise and recommendations to define our direction. Then in early 2024, we conducted focus groups with parents and guardians, alums, former trustees, and student leaders, all of whom provided valuable insights and ideas that shaped our thoughts and priorities. We are deeply grateful to the entire community for their participation.

Our Mission

Thayer Academy’s mission is to inspire a diverse community of students to moral, intellectual, artistic, and physical excellence so that each may rise to honorable achievement and contribute to the common good.

Our Vision

Deep student engagement is the key to transformative learning in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world. Thayer is committed to being a regional and national leader in student engagement so that each student can find the purpose, relevance, and joy in learning that leads to lifelong growth, fulfillment, and success.

Thayer achieves profound engagement by ensuring students are truly known, connected, and prepared.

  • OUR STUDENTS ARE KNOWN.
    We forge deeply meaningful educator-student connections that empower students to be authentic, understood, and seen for who they are and aspire to be.
  • OUR STUDENTS ARE CONNECTED TO THE WORLD.
    Thayer both brings our students to communities around the world and welcomes outstanding practitioners and leaders to our campus to inspire our students and enhance their global engagement.
  • OUR STUDENTS ARE PREPARED TO ADAPT TO A CHANGING WORLD.
    Thayer is laser-focused on teaching and practicing with our students the specific and most valuable skills needed to navigate a rapidly-evolving world.

Thayer’s enduring commitment to student engagement inspires our entire community to explore, adapt, innovate, and collaborate. We cultivate genuine curiosity, courage, and resilience, so that students can embrace diverse and dynamic opportunities while understanding the ethical responsibility to improve communities near and far.

Our Priorities

Guided by our enduring commitment to Thayer’s long-term health, we will concentrate our work and resources over the next five years on the advancement of three essential strategic priorities. Each priority is mutually-reinforcing and designed to leverage our historic strengths while expanding on our recent successes. Together, they ensure Thayer will remain a first-choice school for talented students, athletes, artists and leaders.
Priorities

Purpose & Impact

Expand and deepen access to community and global engagement opportunities to inspire our students to make a difference.
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Priorities

Innovation & Collaboration

Amplify Thayer’s tradition of curricular and pedagogical innovation to generate ideas that transform and elevate the Thayer experience.

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Priorities

Strength & Well-being

Prioritize investments in our people, programs, and campus to sustain personal well-being and financial health.

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Our FUTURE TOGETHER

Today marks not the end of our planning, but the beginning of our bright future. For nearly 150 years, we have fostered intellectual curiosity, joy, and a lifelong commitment to the common good. Now, realizing our ambitious goals will require all of us to work together. As we make progress, we will eagerly share updates as well as ways the entire community can support Thayer. Our hope is that every member of our school will lend their minds and spirit to our collective effort, just as we lend our voices to the chorus that proudly proclaims “Thayer, Thayer, Forever.”

Join us as we go Forever Forward together.