Nashville's University School Dismisses Head Over Handling of Student Misconduct Allegations

University School of Nashville has fired its director, Amani Reed, citing his handling of a student's sexual misconduct allegations made last spring. The board announced the decision on Tuesday, the day classes resumed after winter break.

Board chair Eric Kopstain, a Vanderbilt University administrator who left his post as vice chancellor in December, pointed to Reed's "actions and inactions" after the student accused Dean Masullo, a former English teacher. Chai Reddy, the school's head of high school, has taken over as interim director. Reed had led the school since July 2022, arriving from The School at Columbia University in New York City after an extensive executive search.

The dismissal followed a 78-page report delivered to board members on Dec. 18 by attorneys Joy Boyd Longnecker and JD Thomas of Barnes & Thornburg. The report covers Masullo's time at the school, the student's allegations, and the administrative response shaped by Reed and other leaders. The school let Masullo go over the summer under an agreement that included a payout of nearly $30,000, and it has since sued him to recover that money.

Frustrated by the lack of communication about Masullo's departure, the student described her experience in an August letter to the board, prepared by attorney Alex Little and first reported by Connor Daryani of the Nashville Banner. The letter sharpened accusations against Reed and fellow administrator Quentin Walker over their treatment of her. Walker had already said he would leave at the end of the 2024-2025 school year.

The board created the Ad Hoc Committee for School Safety in September after outcry from students, alumni, faculty and parents. Critical parent letters, a faculty petition and student protests followed in September and October. The seven-person committee includes former Metro finance director Kristin Wilson and restaurateur Benjamin Goldberg, and it quickly hired Longnecker and Thomas to examine the school's response.

The attorneys substantiated the allegations against Masullo and found his actions were "consistent with 'grooming' behavior," though not a "sexual offense" under Tennessee law. Exhibits include love letters and gifts he gave the student. The report describes frequent one-on-one time during school hours, social outings away from campus, and an overnight hotel stay with Masullo and his wife. The student privately recorded at least one of their interactions on her phone.

The investigators did not place blame on a single person other than Masullo. "Our investigation found no single point of failure or single individual who is wholly responsible," the summary says, with the exception of Masullo, who "is clearly to blame for engaging in and concealing conduct he knew was inappropriate." Some employees found his behavior odd, the report says, but no one knew its full extent.

The report nonetheless faulted the response led by Reed and other senior figures, saying it "failed to involve critical members of senior School leadership" and "lacked a cohesive plan." Reed stepped back from some decisions, citing a conflict of interest because his son had previously dated the student, while directly managing others. The attorneys also criticized the board, led by Kopstain, as complacent, deferential to Reed and "unprepared" for the crisis.

In Tuesday's announcement, the board acknowledged "significant deficiencies and shortcomings," including "mistakes by us, the Board of Trustees," and apologized to the alumna, her family and the wider community. It said it would hold meetings in the coming weeks to answer questions and discuss the search for a new Head of School.