English

List of 9 members.

• 

  Dr. Seth Boyd 

  Chair of the English Department, English Teacher

  805-646-4377

  University of New Hampshire - BA, MA
  University of Nevada - PhD

  Bio

  Seth developed a love of the West while living in Nevada as a graduate student. His passion for boarding school education, kindled by his work with the St. Paul’s School Advanced Studies Program, sent him back to the East Coast, where he taught at The Hill School in Pennsylvania. At Thacher, Seth teaches sophomore and junior English classes, coaches the JV boys’ basketball and varsity boys’ tennis teams, and spends as much time as possible riding bikes on the roads and trails surrounding campus. He lives in Upper School with his wife, Melanie Berner, and son, Arlo.
• 

  Ms. Melanie Berner  

  English Department, Mindfulness Instructor

  Bio

  Melanie is the head of mindfulness programming, teaches English, coaches rock climbing, and advises sophomore girls. A northern Nevada native, she loves spending time in the mountains, especially the Sierras. As a graduate student, Melanie taught in the University of Nevada's English department, as well as putting her BFA to use in teaching photography classes. She also taught at the St. Paul's School summer program, and after seven years at the Hill School in Pennsylvania, Melanie is happy to be back in the West here at Thacher. She lives in Upper School with her husband, Seth Boyd, and their six-year-old son, Arlo.
• 

  Ms. Katherine Halsey 

  French and English Teacher and Riding Instructor

  Stanford University - BA

  Bio

  A teacher of French and English, Katherine had never ridden horses before coming to Thacher, but she soon discovered the challenges and rewards of working in the equine world. Now she not only instructs students in riding but also leads horse-packing trips. A graduate of Stanford University, Katherine taught at Belmont Hill School and Phillips Academy, Andover prior to Thacher. She likes to say that she followed her daughter, then a boarding student, to Thacher. Katherine enjoys reading, writing, singing, and spending time with her grown children and their families. She plays the guitar and has recently taken up the mandolin. Katherine’s passion for language study and international travel took her to France on School Year Abroad as a senior in high school, the first of eight years total spent living there. Striking out in a whole new direction, Katherine spent her sabbatical year, 2006-2007, in South Africa, where she volunteered for mothers2mothers, an organization that works in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. She worked in curriculum development for m2m and had the chance to travel extensively throughout sub-Saharan Africa, serving as a spokesperson and liaison for the group.
• 

  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.
• 

  Dr. Ali Rahman 

  English Department

  Drexel University - BA
  Sarah Lawrence College - MFA
  University of California, Santa Barbara - PhD

  Bio

  A native of Philadelphia, Dr. Ali Rahman rejoined Thacher after spending two years teaching in the writing program at The University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Rahman was a Fisher Fellow previously, where he taught English, History, and coached several sports, including tennis and basketball. He also holds an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Sarah Lawrence College where he worked on a novel about the second generation Muslim American experience. He graduated with a B.A. from Drexel University in 2011 and has taught in a variety of contexts since that time, including a large research university, independent K-12 schools, community centers, a prison in New York, and a university in the Middle East. He loves to learn, teach, and talk about literature, history, art, culture, and technology’s impact on society.  Dr. Rahman will be living next to Casa with his family, including Ms. Mohsenian-Rahman, our new director of diversity, equity and inclusion.
• 

  Mr. Cameron Spaulding 

  Thacher Wilderness Program Director and Golden Trout Program Director

  Bio

  Cam Spaulding CdeP 1992 first returned to Thacher in 2002 to work in the Horse and Outdoor Programs. During his time at the School, he has come to oversee the operations at Golden Trout Camp, where he lives and works during the summers. He is back on campus for the winter and spring terms this year to teach several elective courses, lead weekend camping trips, and coach both soccer and lacrosse. 
• 

  Mr. Tim Sullivan 

  Dean of Faculty, English Teacher, Upper School Dorm Head

  Princeton University - AB
  Middlebury College - MA

  Bio

  As a member of the English department faculty, Tim fully embraces Thacher's essential spirit of adventure; for him, sharing that spirit takes place in all facets of Thacher life. Tim arrived at Thacher in 2013 after eight years teaching, coaching, and working in development at his high school alma mater, Loyola Blakefield, an all-boys Jesuit day school just outside Baltimore, Maryland. After graduating from Princeton in 2005, Tim continued his studies (and met his wife, Courtney) at Middlebury College's Bread Loaf School of English, from which he graduated in 2010 with a master's degree. In addition to working in the English department at Thacher, Tim coaches varsity boys' lacrosse, is the dorm head for Upper School, and serves as an advisor to senior boys. He and Courtney live on campus with their two boys, Cooper and Beckett.
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  Ms. Johanna Valdez 
• 

  Mr. Kirby  Hales 

  Fisher Fellow: English Department