University School of Nashville fires school director
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University School of Nashville fired its director on Monday after an independent review concluded the school mishandled a former student's reports of sexual misconduct.
Why it matters: USN, one of the most prominent private schools in Nashville, has been rocked by a scandal for months, after a former student went public with claims of sexual misconduct by a teacher.
Flashback: The former student claimed that teacher and adviser Dean Masullo took her on out-of-town trips, to the movies, and bought her gifts. The school fired Masullo in May 2024, after reviewing the student's claims.
- The former student's attorney sent a letter to the USN board in August claiming the school bungled its response to the complaints.
- The school subsequently hired a law firm, Barnes & Thornburg, to conduct an independent review and forwarded information to District Attorney Glenn Funk.
The latest: The USN board reviewed the report and fired director Amani Reed on Monday evening. The independent review found Masullo's conduct as "consistent with grooming," according to a letter to the school's community.
- "The [school's response to the student's complaints] prioritized process over people and ignored the widespread effects of Masullo's actions and removal," according to the new report. "These failures undermined trust in senior leadership and in the Board among every School constituency, including faculty, staff, students, parents and alumni."
What they're saying: "This has been a painful time for the USN community, one from which we are determined to learn and grow stronger," board president Eric Kopstain said in a letter to the school community on Tuesday.
- The school has developed a "care plan" to help students, alumni, parents and staffers impacted by the situation, according to Kopstain's letter.
Go deeper: Read the independent report.