Barclay served Oliverian not only as its first head and longtime admissions director, but also as a teacher, advisor, counselor, and coach. He describes the feeling he had when he began his first teaching job at Brunswick School in Greenwich, Connecticut, as a strong sense that he was “going home.” Barclay states that since entering the field of education, “it’s as though I’ve never had a bad day.”

Barclay received his BA from The City University of New York and his master’s degree from Pepperdine University in Los Angeles, California. He’s proud to say that his work at Oliverian has been the most richly rewarding professional experience of his career.

“The Oliverian School ethos supports students who may be struggling to find their way, while giving them an opportunity to redefine who they are in a setting that will nourish and inspire them,” says Barclay. Barclay lives in Vermont with his lovely and talented wife, Kerry, and is the proud father of sons Ian, Max, and Ben, and grandchildren Ian, Eddie, Blake and Luke.

What do you love about Oliverian?
“Strong sense of family and love. A school that encourages students and faculty alike to be exactly who they are while at the same time encouraging us all to take chances and spread our wings.”

What motivates you to work with kids?
“So often as adults we forget the joys and the tensions of being a teenager. In being at Oliverian, we are encouraged to constantly remind ourselves what it is our kids are going through, and that helps us to motivate and support them while at the same time keeps us young at heart!”