Brian Wesley Thomas, MS
Consultant and Executive Coach
Highlights
30+ years in education, as an administrator and teacher
Speaker and writer
Emmy Award–winning actor
Board of trustees, Center of Creative Arts in St. Louis
Brian Thomas, MS, is the head of school of Proctor Academy. He has spent 30 years in independent school education. He served as the assistant head of school at Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School (MICDS), a pre-K through grade 12 independent day school in St. Louis that serves over 1,200 students. Previously, he served as associate head of school at Bentley School in Oakland, CA, and head of school at Presidio Hill School in San Francisco, as well as head of school Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy in Las Vegas.
Thomas’ early teaching career included roles as English teacher, English department head, humanities coordinator, and baseball and basketball coach. Prior to discovering his passion for teaching and working in independent schools, Brian was a professional actor, working off-Broadway and in Hollywood. It’s this love of the arts that keeps him engaged on the board of trustees of the Center of Creative Arts in St. Louis. A frequent speaker and writer at the national level, Brian believes that embracing diverse learning styles, proximate learning opportunities, and human relationships sit at the core of an effective education.
A native of Chicago’s Far South Side, Brian earned a bachelor of arts degree in history from Yale University and a master of science degree in education from Portland State University.
Publications, media, and appearances
The journey: Belonging and acceptance at Proctor (Proctor, 2024)
Why I stay: And what independent schools can do to attract and keep other teachers and administrators of color (Medium, 2020)
What we share: These three things (Medium, 2021)
The journey: The awesomeness of teenagers (Proctor, 2023)
