Mark Ayers

 Mark Ayers, a member of the very first ABC of Andover graduating class, received his AHS diploma in 1969.  As one of our pioneer students, Mark went on to Dartmouth College, where he completed his BA in Mathematics in 1973.  After working for a year as a programmer for NASA, he returned to his home state of Ohio to attend Miami University. While there, he received his MS in Applied Mathematics in 1976. 

During his two years in Andover, Mark fondly remembers Jay Leno and other AHS students coming to the ABC house on Friday nights to “hang out” with the guys in the house. He also recalls Jay or Mr. Leno giving him rides to and from AHS as they found him walking to school (uphill both ways back then). He also has fond memories of Coach Collins who was his history teacher, Mr. Danforth, his chemistry teacher and, in that class, he and Jay Leno were in chemistry labs together. He also has memories of Mr. Wilkinson, his physics teacher. Mark remains in touch with classmate, Clayton White (1969), Van Debose (1970) and, until his recent passing, Ellis Rowe (1970).  Ellis was such a good friend, he named his first born, Marcus C. Rowe, after him. 

Mark developed an early passion for technology, and leveraged that affection to embark on a career in Information Technology.  He has worked as a project manager with companies including IBM, Wells Fargo, E-Loan, Safeway Stores, Washington Mutual, Southern Pacific Railroad, Pacific Telephone, JC Penney, American Presidents Line (APL), and Intuit. As a professor for the University of Phoenix, Mark taught calculus and computer science. In the last ten years, he has managed academic coaching (Title 1) programs and, more recently, has taught math in upper elementary and middle school.

Mark has made his home in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1977.  He and his wife have been married for 25 years. He enjoys anything digital, sports, and outdoor activities.