University School of Nashville
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Published – October 10, 2024
Board members and administrators at the University School of Nashville (USN) are under fire after an English teacher sponsored an LGBTQ club allegedly used to groom and sexually harass students.
“Members of the [USN] community have called for the removal of certain administrative officials amid objections about how they handled sexual misconduct allegations. The community feels the school was not transparent about its investigation into Dean Masullo, an English teacher and the former Gender and Sexuality Alliance faculty club sponsor.”
Genders and Sexuality Alliance, or the GSA Network (GSA), exists in the form of middle school and high school student-led organizations that focus on multiple sexualities and sexual identities among youth. GSA’s main page says “trans and queer youth uniting for racial and gender justice,” and their strategy is to “advocate for just policies that protect LGBTQ youth from harassment and violence.”
According to one victim’s lawyer, USN board members failed to respond to a meeting request wherein the victim wanted to discuss Masullo’s behaviors. The attorney clearly stated that the former student was not suing the school but merely wanted USN leaders to listen to her story. A screenshot of the letter can be viewed below and the full letter can be read here.
Masullo was ultimately accused of sexually grooming and harassing the victim, who turned 18 while still attending his courses. Her allegations include alleged forced kissing, hugging and inappropriate touching, text conversations, “confidential” letters, and buying gifts. The letter indicates Masullo targeted females and “gay male students” who were involved in the GSA club. Thankfully, the primary victim managed to graduate from USN without falling prey to criminal sexual assault.
More than 250 parents, alumni, and students have signed a letter threatening to withhold donations until the board makes changes to its process for handling sexual misconduct and harassment. Student protests reportedly took place outside the officers of USN Director Amani Reed, Assistant Head of School Quinton Walker, and Board of Trustees President Eric Kopstain.
On September 18, 2024, it was revealed that USN did suspend and eventually terminated Masullo earlier in the year, parents, students, and several faculty members are calling for transparency in regard to his severance agreement. Nashville Scene said:
“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 [Director] Reed and others from discussing the situation.”
The source also said Walker plans to leave USN at the end of the school year while Reed and Kopstain have not directly responded to calls for their resignations. Kopstain supposedly contacted a third-party law firm to investigate additional allegations against Masullo.
An update from Nashville Scene revealed that 95 out of 120+ USN community members and staff cast anonymous votes of “no confidence” in Reed for the school’s handling of the Masullo ordeal. The source said the four executive cabinet members have continued to support Reed as the Director of Schools.
Below is a victim statement that was published on social media:
Please send tips and information on the University School of Nashville to [email protected].
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The University School of Nashville has 1,076 students enrolled in elementary, middle, and high school classes. Yearly tuition is $32,908 for the highest grade offered and may change for the current school year.
