An already fragile relationship between school administrators and the parents, students and faculty at University School of Nashville, a local private K-12 school, is rapidly deteriorating following a letter from a former student about sexual advances she allegedly endured from high school English teacher Dean Masullo. Community members now question whether — or for how long — individuals responsible for the school’s response will remain in top administrative roles.
On Tuesday, a new Instagram account (@protectusn) posted a video message from the former student as well as a statement calling for the resignation or removal of USN director Amani Reed, assistant head of school Quinton Walker and board of trustees president Eric Kopstain.
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“At USN, we face difficult situations ourselves instead of hiding behind locked doors and lawyers,” says the student. “Join me in demanding a new era of leadership for our community. I love this place way too much to let anything like this happen ever again.”
She also shared that the USN board of trustees has not responded to her request for a meeting. Earlier this month, the Nashville Banner first reported on a letter to the board sent by the student's lawyer, Alex Little, that includes details of sexual misconduct by Masullo.
After the student reported Masullo’s behavior to administrators in the spring, USN suspended Masullo and engaged law firm Fisher Phillips to advise the school on terminating his employment. While Masullo is no longer employed by USN, faculty, students and parents have repeatedly asked Reed to clarify the terms and conditions on which the two parted ways. Several parents who spoke with the Scene on the condition of anonymity believe USN paid Masullo a financial settlement and signed a nondisclosure agreement binding Reed and others from discussing the situation.
More than 250 students, alums and parents signed a letter in recent days agreeing to withhold monetary donations to the school until the student’s demands are met. Students have protested outside administrators’ offices this week, focusing on Reed, Walker and Kopstain.
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Reed fielded questions from frustrated faculty at a tense meeting Tuesday afternoon, during which he avoided characterizing Masullo’s behavior as “sexual misconduct” and defended his own handling of the matter, according to sources familiar with the situation. Jeff Edmonds, a high school administrator who helped the affected student navigate conversations with Reed, Walker, and school lawyers in the spring, left the meeting before Reed had finished speaking.
“The goal of Tuesday’s meeting with faculty and staff was to maintain an open line of communication with the faculty,” Juanita Traughber, a school spokesperson, tells the Scene. “Director Reed is committed to hearing the voices of the entire community, especially those of his colleagues, and so are Board President Eric Kopstain and other trustees.”
Traughber also says that there is no confidentiality agreement with Masullo.
Last week, 20 faculty members signed a letter criticizing Reed, Walker and the board for allegedly prioritizing USN’s potential legal exposure over the affected student’s wellbeing. The school announced additional legal review on Friday.
Concerned parents are circulating a separate letter calling for the immediate suspension of Reed and Walker, a “standard and accepted procedure” to ensure a credible investigation into school leadership. The letter also states that faculty, families and students have lost confidence in Reed and Walker to lead the school.
In May, Walker announced plans to leave USN at the end of the 2024-2025 school year. Reed, who succeeded former director Vince Durnan in 2022, has not responded to calls for his resignation. Trustee Eric Kopstain, a vice chancellor at Vanderbilt, has repeatedly expressed confidence in Reed.
Disclosure: Motycka is a 2013 graduate of the University School of Nashville.
Update, 4 p.m.: The Scene has updated this story with a comment from USN spokesperson Juanita Traughber.
