School First
Brian Thomas, M.S.
Education Consultant
Executive Coach
I have enjoyed a career as an educational consultant and executive coach working to improve outcomes and impact for students and families through culture and climate at schools and colleges. As the founder and president of 3 Robins Consulting (3R), I work closely with School First and NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges) as a consultant.
Most recently, I served as the Head of School of Proctor Academy from 2021 through 2024. A native of Robbins and Harvey, Illinois (on Chicago’s far south side), I graduated from Yale University (BA in History) and Portland State University (MS in Education), and have spent more than thirty years in independent school education.
Prior to Proctor, I was the Assistant Head of School at Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School, a PreK-Grade 12 independent day school in St. Louis (MO) that serves more than 1,200 students. Previously, I served as Associate Head of School at Bentley School (Oakland, CA) and Head of School at Presidio Hill School (San Francisco, CA) and Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy (Las Vegas). My early teaching career included roles as English Teacher, English Department Head, Humanities Coordinator, and baseball and basketball coach. Prior to discovering my passion for teaching and working in independent schools, I enjoyed being a professional actor, working off-Broadway and in Hollywood, and it is this love of the arts that has led me to remain engaged on the Board of Trustees at Esperanza Academy in Lawrence, MA and the Center of Creative Arts in St. Louis, MO.
A frequent speaker and writer at the national level, my varied experiences across independent schools in the United States have honed my belief that embracing diverse learning styles, proximate learning opportunities, and human relationships sit at the core of an effective education. Brian loves playing adult men’s baseball, which he has been doing for over 35 years. He also likes to visit with his adult children, Eian and Olivia, who live in Northern California.