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The following statement was sent to current families and alumni on November 21, 2015.
Important Announcement from the Williston Northampton School
Dear Members of the Williston Northampton School Community:
On April 13, 2015, we wrote to inform you that we had just learned of allegations of sexual
misconduct in the 1970s involving a member of Willistons faculty and a student. The school
promptly brought this information to the attention of law enforcement, placed the faculty member
on administrative leave, and retained the help of an experienced investigator, Susan E. Schorr.
During the course of the investigation, we encouraged alumni and other community members to
be in touch with Ms. Schorr with information about this or any other allegation of sexual
misconduct at the school. We want to thank everyone who provided information about these very
personal and often painful matters. Given all that our nation has learned in the past two decades
about the pain inflicted by adults in church and academic settings, and how victims have lived in
silent suffering, those who came forward should be admired and respected for their bravery and
courage.
The focus of the investigation was to assess whether students of the school experienced sexual
misconduct by any faculty, staff, or administrator, recently or in years and decades past, and if so,
how the school might address such incidents now. Past generations of families trusted that their
sons and daughters would be safe and well-cared for at this institution. Any sexual conduct
involving a teacher and a student is a significant breach and violation of that trust, and Williston is
simply too good an institution not to acknowledge past mistakes, make amends, and move forward.
Over the course of the investigation, Ms. Schorr interviewed approximately 50 people and
interacted with approximately 40 other alumni, current and former faculty members, current and
former administrators, and current and former trustees. Written records and source materials were
also reviewed. The investigation has concluded.
Initial Investigation

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The initial phase of the investigation focused on the information provided to the school in April
2015 that prompted our letter.
Our investigator confirmed details of an ongoing sexual relationship between one of our male
faculty members and a female student in the late 1970s. When the relationship began in the
students junior year, the faculty member was 33 years old, and the girl was 16 years of age. Their
relationship involved repeated incidents of sexual encounters, both on- and off-campus. Both
individuals corroborated these and other details and assisted in the investigation. During the
course of the investigation, while on administrative leave, the faculty member tendered his
resignation to the school in July 2015.
From the very first days of the investigation in April 2015, the faculty member admitted to having
an inappropriate sexual relationship with this student. He also made us aware that he had admitted
this sexual misconduct to prior school administrators twice before, prompted by two separate
written communications from the alumna to the school in 1990 and 2002. Interviews and
documents confirmed this information.
Despite his admission of this misconduct to a small circle of past senior administrators, no
significant action or follow-up was taken or documented in either 1990 or 2002. The faculty
member was promoted in 1992, and given positions of increased responsibility and care for
students. We believe that prior Williston administrations could and should have done more.
Over the past several months, we have received numerous communications from alumni
acknowledging this faculty members distinguished teaching career. These experiences, however,
cannot justify or excuse what this faculty member himself acknowledged to occur. Sadly, Williston
is not alone. Peer schools learning of past misdeeds have acted with similar results: in 2015, no
school should retain a faculty member with a history of sexual misconduct towards a student.
In assessing what happened and why, some may cite the changing times in which we live, and the
differences in societal mores and expectations today as compared to the 1970s. These observations,
however, are irrelevant to school administrators in 2015 who are responsible for the care and
education of children, almost all of whom are under the age of 18.
Other Instances of Sexual Misconduct
Our investigator received and reviewed allegations about incidents involving other former faculty
members at Williston. The levels of alleged misconduct varied, but related to behavior that should
and would not be tolerated today. Two alumnae came forward to share credible first-hand accounts
of sexual misconduct by former teachersone incident in the late 1980s and another in the early
2000s, both allegedly occurred when the student was over the age of 16. Based on information
learned during the investigation, Williston has notified the appropriate authorities.
Conclusion
In launching this investigation, Williston committed to confronting its past with respect to a
painful subjectstudent/teacher sexual relationshipsbelieving that it is never too late to do the
right thing. The investigation reiterated the emotional harm done to adolescents when a trusted
adult crosses what should be a bright boundary line.
We have personally reached out to alumni who came forward, to offer our apologies on behalf of
the institution. In the instances where it would be helpful, we are assisting with mental health
counseling. While our assistance today can in no way undo the past, it exemplifies our institutional
commitment to the safety of our students now and in the future.
It is important to note that Williston had already undertaken several significant steps in recent
years to protect our current students from inappropriate conduct, including detailed and extensive
faculty and staff training, rigorous background checks for faculty and staff, and a clearly articulated
mandatory reporting process. As noted in our April letter, we continually examine current
practices to ensure that appropriate boundaries are maintained between adults and students and

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that all members of our community clearly understand what to do should anyone suspect that a
boundary has been crossed. We will continue to create and maintain a safe environment in which
all students feel completely comfortable reporting any type of inappropriate behavior.
Williston has emerged stronger from this experience, and we thank all of those who came forward
to speak with Ms. Schorr. On behalf of the Williston Northampton School and its Board of
Trustees, we offer a sincere apology to the students once in our care, and our unwavering
commitment to the ongoing safety and welfare of our community going forward.
Yours sincerely,
Robert W. Hill III P15, 19
Head of School
James M. Dubin 64
President, Board of Trustees

THE WILLISTON NORTHAMPTON SCHOOL

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