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Hilltop Profile: Head Athletic Trainer Sara Dunbar
March marks both Athletic Training Month and International Women’s Month, making it the perfect time to recognize the dedication and impact of Vermont Academy’s Head Athletic Trainer, Sara Dunbar. Through her daily work with students and athletes, Sara plays an essential role in supporting the health, safety, and overall well being of the community.
Sara rejoined the Vermont Academy community in the fall of 2024 as the Assistant Athletic Trainer and a nurse, later stepping into her current role as Head Athletic Trainer. While she officially returned in 2024, her connection to Vermont Academy goes back even further. Sara first worked at the school in 2000 as Athletic Trainer, teacher and advisor, building strong relationships within the community that eventually brought her back.
Her career in student health and wellness spans many respected schools, including Hopkins School, Milton Academy, Leland and Gray Middle and High School, and The Putney School. Across these roles, Sara has served as an athletic trainer, health services coordinator, nurse, teacher, and advisor, key experiences that have shaped her holistic approach to caring for students.
Sara earned her Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from Boston University’s Sargent College of Allied Health and later received an Associate Degree in Nursing from Vermont Technical College. In addition to her work at Vermont Academy, she is also a certified EMT and volunteers with Rockingham Rescue along with her son Andrew Dunbar, extending her commitment to care beyond campus and into the local community.
Wellness is at the center of everything Sara does. She is passionate about helping students understand how to take care of themselves both physically and emotionally. As a trained Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, she brings an additional perspective to her work, emphasizing the importance of nutrition, balance, and overall well being. Sara also helps lead the employee wellness initiative, where she works with faculty to promote healthy habits and conversations around mental and physical wellness.
Sara says one of the most rewarding parts of her work is the opportunity to support high school students, particularly within the unique environment of a boarding school. She enjoys helping students learn more about themselves while developing the skills and awareness needed to care for their bodies and minds.
Outside of her professional life, Sara is deeply connected to the Vermont Academy community. Her husband, John Dunbar, is a member of the Class of 1991, and their family has strong ties to the school. Along with being married to a Vermont Academy alum, Saras’ child Nik Dunbar, is a current member of the Class of 2027.
Sara and her family live in the village of Saxtons River, where she enjoys spending time outdoors, cooking, gardening, reading, traveling, and being with friends and family.
Whether she is treating injuries on the sidelines, helping athletes recover, advising students on wellness, or volunteering as an EMT, Sara’s work often happens behind the scenes but has a lasting impact on the entire community. During Athletic Training Month, Vermont Academy celebrates Sara Dunbar and the care, knowledge, and dedication she brings to her role every single day.
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Her career in student health and wellness spans many respected schools, including Hopkins School, Milton Academy, Leland and Gray Middle and High School, and The Putney School. Across these roles, Sara has served as an athletic trainer, health services coordinator, nurse, teacher, and advisor, key experiences that have shaped her holistic approach to caring for students.
Sara earned her Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from Boston University’s Sargent College of Allied Health and later received an Associate Degree in Nursing from Vermont Technical College. In addition to her work at Vermont Academy, she is also a certified EMT and volunteers with Rockingham Rescue along with her son Andrew Dunbar, extending her commitment to care beyond campus and into the local community.
Wellness is at the center of everything Sara does. She is passionate about helping students understand how to take care of themselves both physically and emotionally. As a trained Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, she brings an additional perspective to her work, emphasizing the importance of nutrition, balance, and overall well being. Sara also helps lead the employee wellness initiative, where she works with faculty to promote healthy habits and conversations around mental and physical wellness.
Sara says one of the most rewarding parts of her work is the opportunity to support high school students, particularly within the unique environment of a boarding school. She enjoys helping students learn more about themselves while developing the skills and awareness needed to care for their bodies and minds.
Outside of her professional life, Sara is deeply connected to the Vermont Academy community. Her husband, John Dunbar, is a member of the Class of 1991, and their family has strong ties to the school. Along with being married to a Vermont Academy alum, Saras’ child Nik Dunbar, is a current member of the Class of 2027.
Sara and her family live in the village of Saxtons River, where she enjoys spending time outdoors, cooking, gardening, reading, traveling, and being with friends and family.
Whether she is treating injuries on the sidelines, helping athletes recover, advising students on wellness, or volunteering as an EMT, Sara’s work often happens behind the scenes but has a lasting impact on the entire community. During Athletic Training Month, Vermont Academy celebrates Sara Dunbar and the care, knowledge, and dedication she brings to her role every single day.
Vermont Academy is a coed college preparatory boarding and day school in southern Vermont, serving grades 9-12 plus a postgraduate year.
