Crisis Intervention and Investigations

At Tabor, the safety, health, and wellbeing of our entire community is of paramount importance. To support the wide needs of our on-campus community, we have several resources available including:

• Security: 508-326-9600
• Administrator on Duty: 508-353-1307
• Health Center: 508-291-8306
• Student Life Office: 508-291-8345
• Student Wellness: 508-291-8589
• School Counseling: 508-291-8567 or 508-291-8548
• Diversity, Equity, and Belonging Office: 508-291-8346
• Center for International Students: 508-291-8288
• Athletic Trainer: 508-291-8349
• Dining Services: 508-291-8341

In addition, we have a variety of student and faculty groups that meet regularly to address the on-going needs of our Seawolves, ranging from academic-focused councils to crisis response teams.  

For immediate crisis intervention, general information, and resources:

• RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): Contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673), RAINN Chat Hotline or visit the RAINN website 
• STESA (Standing Together to End Sexual Assault): Access STESA’s crisis hotline at 805-564-3696 or visit their website
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
• Crisis Text Line (free 24/7 crisis support via text message for any type of crisis): Text HELLO to 741741
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233)
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357)
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): 1-800-950-NAMI (1-800-950-6264)

To speak with someone about crisis concerns at Tabor Academy, please contact our Crisis Response Team at hotline@taboracademy.org.

To speak with someone about concerns or to report employee sexual misconduct at Tabor Academy, please contact one of the following individuals.

• Head of School Tony Jaccaci at headofschool@taboracademy.org
• T&M USA Investigator Julie Freudenheim at jfreudenheim@tmusallc.com

If you wish to contact law enforcement regarding employee sexual misconduct at Tabor, you may contact of the following departments:

• Plymouth County District Attorney at 508-894-2505
• Marion Police Department at 508-748-3511

Dear Tabor Community,

As we close out the 2022-2023 school year and begin our third year of collaboration as head of school and board chair, we celebrate many great accomplishments of the past year. We have welcomed some incredible new leaders to our team, completed a successful first year of the new TaborX experiential learning program, and are well underway with exciting Strategic Planning work that we look forward to sharing with you this fall.

While much of our work is positive and uplifting, we must also address more difficult topics, including historical misconduct. In August 2022 we sent a letter to our community addressing historical educator sexual misconduct. It is our hope that this letter served as method of closure for some of our survivors, and for others, assurance that Tabor is always working to grow and improve in support of our students and our greater community. If you are unfamiliar with our previous outreach, you can read the letters and summary of the investigative process and findings online at www.taboracademy.org/investigation. 

Since releasing the communication in August 2022, which invited members of the Tabor community to come forward if they had information to report, additional reporters provided information regarding three (3) instances of potential sexual misconduct. After receiving these reports, Tabor again engaged experts at T&M USA to investigate the alleged misconduct. As a direct result of T&M’s efforts, our school has learned that two (2) former faculty members committed sexual misconduct with two (2) former Tabor students. In the third reported case, investigators did not find that sexual misconduct had occurred. A summary of T&M’s most recent findings can also be found online at www.taboracademy.org/investigation.

In addition, we can provide an update to our communication in June 2023, which provided information regarding the arrest in Georgia of former Chief Financial Officer Chris Winslow on charges including sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography. While some members of our community reached out after the June 2023 letter to share their experiences with Mr. Winslow, Tabor has received no allegation concerning any sexual misconduct or exploitation while Winslow was employed at Tabor.

THE SCHOOL RESPONSE

After receiving reports of historic misconduct and opening T&M’s investigation in 2016, Tabor worked swiftly to address internal shortcomings, learning from incidents where Tabor employees did not meet their obligations to be protective of students who were in Tabor’s care. You can read about the steps Tabor took initially to enhance our safety protocols online here. We continue to examine our school’s culture to ensure that it is one that promotes healthy relationships and supports open communication between students and trusted adults.

In the months since the August 2022 letter was sent, Tabor has partnered with Learning Courage, a nonprofit membership organization that works with K12 independent schools to reduce incidents of sexual misconduct, improve response efforts, and support healing from sexual misconduct and abuse by guiding and advising on best practices, tools, and resources. Earlier this year, the school welcomed the Learning Courage group to campus to assess the school’s policies and practices around healthy boundaries and relationships among community members. During their visit, the group spoke with a wide cross-section of community stakeholders including board members, administrators, faculty, staff, students, parents, and two survivors. Additional information about the work Tabor has done, as a result of the partnership with Learning Courage and other wellness initiatives, can be found online at www.taboracademy.org/investigation. 

On behalf of the leadership of Tabor Academy, we again wish to express our most sincere apologies for the instances of historical misconduct that have taken place at Tabor. The safety and wellbeing of our students is of paramount importance, and we are profoundly sorry for the instances where we have not kept this promise, and for the harm caused to our students and their families. We truly appreciate and commend the courage of those who were willing to come forward and participate in these investigations. We value the health and wellbeing of survivors and allies during this process and supporting them is of utmost importance to Tabor.  

We continue to encourage any member of our community who has information about employee misconduct or abuse to share that information with us so that we can promptly take appropriate action as needed including notifying authorities, investigating, providing support, and communicating with our community. You may contact us by emailing Head of School Tony Jaccaci at headofschool@taboracademy.org or by contacting Julie Freudenheim at T&M USA at jfreudenheim@tmusallc.com. Reports of misconduct may also be made directly to law enforcement by contacting the Plymouth County District Attorney’s office at 508-894-2505 or the Marion Police Department at 508-748-3511. Our priority is to listen, understand what happened, apologize, respond as appropriate, and provide the necessary support for survivors.

We recognize that today’s letter may be unsettling, and we are available to answer any questions that you may have. As always, we are grateful for your partnership. Together, the Tabor community is working to ensure that our School by the Sea will always provide a safe and supportive environment in which students of today and the future can live and learn.

Sincerely,

Anthony T.T. Jaccaci, Head of School
Regina Shakin, Board Chair

Additional information is available online at www.taboracademy.org/investigation

Since the school’s letter to the community in August 2022, T&M investigated three (3) allegations of sexual misconduct. T&M found that two (2) former faculty members committed sexual misconduct with two (2) former Tabor students as follows:

• In the early 2010s, a former female faculty member engaged in a sexual relationship with a male student when the student was 17 years old. The student did not report the misconduct to Tabor at the time.  
   
• T&M also made a finding that in the early 2000s, a former female faculty member engaged in a sexual relationship with a female student who was over 18 years old, which continued after the student’s graduation from Tabor. While the student did not contemporaneously report the allegation to Tabor, a school employee told T&M that in 2003, the employee was informed that the faculty member was dating a post-graduate student, likely at another school. This Tabor employee reported that he advised the faculty member that this relationship was inappropriate. 
   
• In the third reported case, T&M found that in the late 2000s, a former male faculty member communicated via text messages with a female student and that these communications made the student uncomfortable. T&M could not make a finding regarding the content of the communications and did not find that any sexual misconduct occurred. The student did not report the alleged misconduct to Tabor at the time. 

Partnership with Learning Courage

Tabor has partnered with Learning Courage, a nonprofit membership organization that works with K12 independent schools to reduce incidents of sexual misconduct, improve response efforts, and support healing from sexual misconduct and abuse by guiding and advising on best practices, tools, and resources. Earlier this year, the school welcomed the Learning Courage group to campus to assess the school’s policies and practices around healthy boundaries and relationships among community members. During their visit, the group spoke with a wide cross-section of community stakeholders including board members, administrators, faculty, staff, students, parents, and two survivors of historical sexual abuse. From this visit, Learning Courage worked together with Tabor to create a Healthy Boundary action plan to further the school’s ongoing commitment to student safety.

In partnership with Learning Courage, and as part of Tabor’s on-going response to ensure the safety and wellbeing of its students, the school leadership has worked diligently to develop a standalone sexual misconduct policy and ensure the school community knows and understands the policy and process for reporting. Similarly, work continues to ensure that all employees understand Mandated Reporting laws in Massachusetts, including the responsibilities and obligations placed upon school representatives to report all suspected child abuse or neglect, and the process by which to do so. Additional training and support include:

• Annually train those involved in responding to reports of sexual misconduct and caring for individuals
• Annually identify a lead individual at Tabor to ensure sexual misconduct policies and practices are followed
• Maintain relationships with external investigation resources and, when appropriate, make available these external investigators for sexual misconduct cases (and other complex cases); allocate a line item in the budget for these expenses.
• Maintain an ongoing commitment to a healthy community by fostering healthy relationships, student safety and well-being, inclusion and belonging 
• Annually review and solidify a Healthy Boundaries Action Plan and clearly identifying who is responsible for action items
• Annually review and enhance policies and procedures
• Annually conduct a thorough review of all handbooks and update them, as necessary, to ensure they reflect current practices

The partnership with Learning Courage is a multi-year commitment, ensuring continuity and on-going support in this important work.

Additional Support for Seawolves

Tabor has worked to develop a number of resources to better serve its entire community in addressing a variety of mental, emotional, physical, and other safety issues. In addition to reinvigorating a hotline email—hotline@taboracademy.org—first developed as a reporting tool in 2021, the school has also developed a public webpage, Caring for Our Seawolves, aimed at both informing its prospective audience as to the resources available to the community and sharing a number of resources available for Seawolves in need. In addition to resources available directly at Tabor, several national resources are also listed. Seawolves are encouraged to submit new resources to be listed, as well. You can visit the website at www.taboracademy.org/caring-for-our-seawolves  

Permanently Banned Perpetrators

In addition, Tabor took steps to ensure the perpetrators of sexual misconduct with Tabor students are not part of on-going Tabor initiatives. These actions include:

• Issued letters stating perpetrators are not permitted to enter the Tabor Academy campus consistent with the Massachusetts Trespass statute, G.L.c. 266 sec. 120
• Made reports to local authorities and Tabor Security
• Removed all perpetrators from Tabor communications and outreach
• Instituted a database code system to alert Tabor employees to not engage if contacted.

Priorities Looking Ahead 

• Carry out partnership with Women’s Center of New Bedford to work with faculty/staff on responding to reports and supporting students appropriately  
• On-going professional development and training for all faculty and staff, but with a particular focus on those roles that work closely with students in leadership roles, including Administrators and Deans on Duty, Student Life, Coaches, Counselors, and Health and Wellness Teachers
• Additionally, training will be provided with a focus on leadership development of new and aspiring leaders, including student leaders
• Establishing annual, repeatable cycles of Professional Development for students, faculty, and staff
• Establishing comprehensive sexual health education program for all grade levels
• Tracking data trends around student discipline incidents 
• Enhanced integration of student health services, counseling, training, and deans around issues of student wellness 

This work is on-going to ensure that Tabor is, and remains, a safe and welcoming environment in which students can live and learn. To do this, we must continue to build trust among adults, maintain leadership stability, provide agency to the adults in the community to make good and positive choices, and provide opportunities for collaboration so that we can continually learn from each other and grow together. 

Dear Tabor Community,

Last week was a wonderful time here at Tabor, celebrating our students, particularly our seniors. Honoring them at Commencement was a spectacular event, and we wish them well as they move on from our School by the Sea. In the fall, we will welcome a new group of talented students, poised to accomplish great things, and we take pride in providing the best educational environment possible, one that is safe and supportive.
 
However, I write to you today with distressing news related to the conduct of a former employee of our school. We have learned that former employee Chris Winslow, was arrested in Georgia. Winslow, who was working as the Chief Financial Officer at an independent school in Georgia at the time of his arrest, was charged with two counts of sexual exploitation of children and is accused of the possession of child pornography; he was subsequently accused of making false statements to Georgia law enforcement. Winslow was employed at Tabor from 2014-2017 as the school’s Chief Financial Officer. Upon learning of his initial arrest and in an abundance of caution, Tabor opened an inquiry into Winslow’s time at Tabor. At this time, there is no indication that any sexual misconduct or exploitation took place while he was employed at Tabor.
 
This news comes nearly a year after we shared our summary of findings on educator sexual misconduct in August 2022. Since this statement was released, we have been working with our investigators to research three additional reports of historical misconduct from individuals who came forward after the release of our August 2022 letter. Our work is nearing completion, and we aim to release a statement regarding these additional reports this summer. Instances of misconduct are unacceptable, and we take all allegations seriously. Some investigations require significant time as the investigator works carefully with survivors and conducts interviews with others who may be involved and/or have information that can assist with the investigation.
 
We encourage any member of our community who has information about employee misconduct or abuse to share that information with us so that we can promptly take appropriate action including notifying authorities, investigating as needed, providing support, and communicating with our community. You may do so by emailing Head of School Tony Jaccaci at headofschool@ta​boracademy.org or contacting T&M USA, our investigative team, at jfreudenheim@tm​usallc.com. Our priority is to listen, understand what happened, apologize, respond as appropriate, and provide the necessary support for survivors.
 
Should you have questions, I welcome communication with you. As always, I am grateful for your partnership in ensuring that Tabor is and remains a safe and supportive environment in which our students can live and learn today and into the future.

Sincerely,

Anthony T.T. Jaccaci, Head of School

August 26, 2022

Dear Tabor Community,

When we took on leadership roles at Tabor Academy, we knew it would be both an honor and a great responsibility. Now, with an entire year of strong partnership between us as newly appointed Head of School and Board Chair, we can fully appreciate the dynamic, warm, and welcoming community that is Tabor Academy.

As we enter our second year of work, it has become clear that we must address historical sexual abuse and misconduct at Tabor, including an external investigation that began in 2016 following reports of sex abuse made by former students. In addition, we want to share information about the support given to those who were harmed while at our school, as well our school’s continuous programming and policies regarding student safety. This letter to you today offers an update and an apology for the inexcusable behaviors that took place while students were in our care. We believe the safety and wellbeing of our students is of paramount importance, and we are sorry for the instances where we have not kept this promise.

T&M’S INVESTIGATION PROCESS

In the summer of 2016, then Head of School shared with the Tabor community that the school had engaged an outside firm, T&M USA, to perform an external investigation into reports of historical sexual misconduct. These allegations came to light from individual alumni, who shared reports of sexual misconduct which had occurred while they were students at Tabor. T&M USA is a nationally recognized firm that has extensive experience in the investigation of sexual misconduct matters at independent schools and other educational institutions.

The primary focus of the investigation was to identify and support members of our community who experienced sexual misconduct by a Tabor employee during their time at the school. We were guided by a belief in and an eagerness to provide support for our students and alumni. We maintain a sincere commitment to understanding, taking responsibility for, and learning from the harm some of them experienced while at Tabor. Our community was invited to share experiences and information with T&M directly.

Throughout the course of its work, T&M investigated conduct that ranged from inappropriate boundary crossing to physical and sexual contact to sexual assault. The behaviors described were at best inappropriate and at worst abusive or criminal. They all fall far outside the professional expectations for adult-student relationships at our school.

We are deeply appreciative for those who were willing to participate and believe it speaks volumes about the care and commitment of the larger Tabor community. The health and wellbeing of survivors and allies during this process and beyond was of utmost importance to Tabor. When requested, individuals who came forward during this process, regardless of findings, were offered support from the school, ranging from payment for therapy to meetings between school leadership and survivors to sharing information about current school practices.

Additional information about the investigation, including a summary of the T&M investigation findings, is available online. Due to the nature of the content, some may find the material difficult to read.

ADDITIONAL SCHOOL INVESTIGATIONS

Outside of those individuals who participated in the investigation by T&M, other reports of possible misconduct came to the school through individuals who wished to communicate directly with the school rather than an investigator, as well as reports from third parties. These reports came to the school between 2016 and 2020.

WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED

Reports about employee misconduct were brought forward through a combination of first-hand and second-hand accounts, and a review of school files and other relevant materials. As a result of a combination of T&M’s investigations, third party reports, and Tabor’s direct contact with survivors, Tabor Academy learned that thirteen (13) employees committed sexual misconduct with fourteen (14) Tabor students, two (2) non-Tabor students, two (2) Tabor graduates, and one (1) non-Tabor graduate. Reports of employee misconduct were received between 2016-2020. The T&M investigation took place between 2016-2017, with additional investigations taking place in 2019-2021. These investigations addressed conduct reportedly occurring over a period from 1967 to 2000.

We learned that in several cases, a responsible adult received a report regarding the behavior and regrettably failed to respond in a way that would satisfy professional obligations.

Several individuals who came forward expressed strong concerns regarding their privacy, and some shared information with the investigator only with the understanding that the school would do all that it could to ensure their privacy. In honoring the privacy of these survivors and to avoid unintentionally causing their identification, we will not identify the employees who were named in the investigation and/or found to have committed misconduct.

Additional information, including a summary of the T&M investigation findings is available online. Due to the nature of the content, some may find the material difficult to read.

On behalf of the leadership of Tabor Academy, we wish to express our deepest apologies that these members of our community experienced any type of misconduct or abuse. These acts are a gross violation of the trust families place in our school to support and care for their children, and we are profoundly sorry for the harm they caused to our students and their families.

While the investigation was underway, school leaders and trustees worked to support the survivors and achieve outcomes that were consistent with their duties to safeguard the mission and values of the school. This was a long and careful process, which could not have happened without the courage and engagement of all survivors and witnesses. We are deeply grateful to them all.

THE SCHOOL RESPONSE

We have learned from incidents where Tabor employees failed in their obligations to be protective – emotionally, physically, ethically, or legally – of students who were in Tabor’s care. To that end, Tabor has completed the following work to ensure a safe living and learning environment for all members of the community:

• Banned perpetrators of abuse with Tabor students from campus
• Instituted on-going training for employees (including boundary training and sexual harassment training
• Expanded the screening of new hires and on-going screening of current employees
• Improved policies and procedures in both employee and student handbooks
• Enhanced school security to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Enhanced Health Center hours to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Enhanced Student Life programming and curriculum
• Implemented changes to the Student Life Office
• Additional information about the school’s response can be found in Addendum 3.

We must continue to examine our school’s culture to ensure that it is one that promotes healthy relationships and supports open communication between students and trusted adults. While the investigation has been deeply disturbing and upsetting, we feel the information we learned and the inspiration we have gained from the survivors have reinforced our commitment to doing everything in our power to ensure that the Tabor students of today are cared for and protected at our school.

WHY NOW?

When we began our positions of leadership last year and learned of the investigations, we understood it was our responsibility to review, discuss, and process what we have learned before we could properly communicate the outcome with the community. Over the past year, we worked to understand what transpired in the past, including the reports, investigations, and the institution’s mediations with survivors. It has become clear that we need to fully address the extensive investigation and the safety and emotional wellbeing of our students, past and present. We feel it is important for us to share what we have learned so that we may continue to improve our community and help those who have been hurt.

We are aware that there may be additional members of the community who experienced misconduct by an employee which occurred while they were enrolled as students at Tabor. We encourage any member of our community who has information about employee misconduct or abuse to share that information with us so that we can promptly take appropriate action including notifying authorities, investigating as needed, providing support, and communicating with our community. You may do so by emailing Head of School Tony Jaccaci at headofschool@taboracademy.org or Laura Kirschstein at T&M USA at lkirschstein@tmusallc.com. Our priority is to listen, understand what happened, apologize, respond as appropriate, and provide the necessary support for survivors.

Let us close by reiterating our profound gratitude for the courageous alumni who came forward to share their painful experiences. This courage will enable our community to emerge safer and stronger for the Tabor students of today and the future. We know what we have shared may be surprising and unsettling. We expect you may have questions and we welcome communication with you. As always, we are grateful for your partnership.

Sincerely,

Anthony T.T. Jaccaci, Head of School
Regina Shakin, Board Chair

In the summer of 2016, then Head of School shared with the Tabor community that the school had engaged an outside firm, T&M USA, to perform an external investigation into reports of historical sexual misconduct. These allegations came to light from individual alumni, who shared reports of sexual misconduct that had occurred while they were students at Tabor. T&M USA is a nationally recognized firm that has extensive experience in the investigation of sexual misconduct matters at independent schools and other educational institutions.

The primary focus of the investigation was to identify and support members of our community who experienced sexual misconduct by a Tabor employee during their time at the school. We were guided by a belief in and an eagerness to provide support for our students and alumni. We maintain a sincere commitment to understanding, taking responsibility for, and learning from the harm some of them experienced while at Tabor. Our community was invited to share experiences and information with T&M directly.

At that time, reports of misconduct that had been presented to the school were turned over to T&M, as was information that had been discovered during the school’s own internal review of its files. We are deeply appreciative for those who were willing to participate and think it speaks volumes about the care and commitment of the larger Tabor community.

T&M was given broad discretion to pursue all leads, including reaching out proactively to individuals who had been identified as possibly having relevant information or experiences to share. The investigator sought to interview each individual, still living, about whom an allegation was raised. The investigator interviewed 66 individuals, some with counsel present, and many were interviewed on more than one occasion.

Ultimately, T&M made findings regarding the misconduct of several Tabor employees with Tabor students. The findings were reached using a “preponderance of the evidence” standard, which permits a conclusion as to whether it is more likely than not that a reported event occurred.

T&M’s work was thorough and careful, and conducted with the utmost respect for, and sensitivity to, survivors, their stories, and their privacy. It is, of course, true that investigations into events that happened long ago pose challenges, and we would neither propose nor believe that through this investigation, or others, we have come to know our history in its entirety.

Due to the nature of this content, the information provided may be difficult for some to read.

Over the many months of the T&M investigation, the names of twenty-three (23) Tabor employees were brought to T&M’s attention as having potentially engaged in sexual misconduct. These reports were brought forward through a combination of first-hand and second-hand accounts, and a review of school files and other relevant materials. As a result of a combination of T&M’s investigations, third party reports, and Tabor’s direct contact with survivors, Tabor Academy learned that thirteen (13) employees committed sexual misconduct with fourteen (14) Tabor students, two (2) non-Tabor students, two (2) Tabor graduates, and one (1) non-Tabor graduate. Reports of employee misconduct were received between 2016-2020. The T&M investigation took place between 2016-2017, with additional investigations taking place in 2019-2021. These investigations addressed conduct reportedly occurring over a period from 1967 to 2000.

We learned that in several cases, a responsible adult received a report regarding the behavior and regrettably failed to respond in a way that would satisfy professional obligations.

T&M FINDINGS

T&M made the following findings regarding the misconduct of six (6) Tabor employees with Tabor students:

• In the late 1960s, a male faculty member made several unwanted and uninvited sexual advances towards a male student and engaged in numerous sexual acts with the student when the student was 15 or 16 years old. This abuse was reported by the student to a faculty member who did not report it to the administration or to law enforcement authorities. On one occasion, between 1985 and 1987, this same faculty member invited a 15 or 16-year-old male Tabor student to his apartment on the Tabor campus where he offered the student wine, showed him homosexual pornography, and put his hand on the student’s knee, making that student uncomfortable. There was no evidence to support a finding that this incident was reported to anyone at Tabor.
   
• In the late 1960s, a male faculty member made several unwanted and uninvited advances towards a 16-year-old male student and engaged in sexual acts with this student. The student did not report the abuse to anyone at the school.  The same faculty member was reported by two other students to have come into their bedroom after lights-out.  While the faculty member who received the report admonished the individual not to go into students’ rooms after lights-out, the faculty member who received the report did not report the conduct to the administration or seek to investigate.
   
• In the late 1970s, a recent male graduate reported to school administration that a male faculty member had made a sexual advance towards him while he was a student. School administration did not take any action in response. In the early eighties, this same male faculty member made numerous uninvited and unwanted sexual advances to two different male students and engaged in sexual acts with each of them. One student reported the abuse to a faculty member, who did not report it to the administration or to enforcement authorities.
   
• In the late 1980s, a male faculty member engaged in the physical touching of a female student while she was 17 and 18 years old. This misconduct was not reported to school administration at the time, though there is evidence to suggest that school administration was subsequently aware of rumors at the time and after the student’s graduation that the relationship between the student and the faculty member had become physical, and that no action was taken in response to those rumors.
   
• In the late 1980s, a male faculty member made numerous unwanted and uninvited sexual advances towards a female student, and on multiple occasions engaged in non-consensual, forcible sexual acts with her. The student reported to multiple faculty members or administrators that the male faculty member had made sexual advances. While some action was eventually taken to reduce the faculty member’s responsibilities and interactions with students on campus, the action fell well short of the way in which the school would respond to such reports today.
   
• In the early 1990s, a recent female graduate reported to school administration that a male faculty member had engaged in an inappropriate sexual relationship with her while she was a student and reported a concern that the same male faculty member was then-engaged in a similar relationship with a present female student. The school took action, which included conducting an investigation, in response to the reports. The faculty member’s file demonstrates that he had been reprimanded previously for unrelated performance shortfalls, and he was not offered employment for the school year following the investigation. As a result of participation in the present investigation, T&M made a finding that the male faculty member did engage, in the early 1990s, in sexual acts with one female student that lasted after her graduation from Tabor.  

In addition, T&M found that three (3) employees engaged in inappropriate behavior with three (3) high school graduates; two (2) of these cases occurred at Tabor and one (1) was a report of an instance from a previous employment at another school.

• On two occasions in the mid 1980s, a male faculty member subjected a 19-year-old recent Tabor graduate to physical touching that made the student uncomfortable. There is no evidence to support a finding that this interaction was ever reported to anyone at Tabor or that anyone at Tabor was aware of this interaction. While this faculty member was employed by Tabor, a former Tabor administrator heard a statement made by a faculty member at another independent school where the Tabor faculty member had been previously employed which suggested to that Tabor administrator that the faculty member had engaged in inappropriate behavior of a sexual nature with a student while at the other independent school. That former administrator did not report that statement to anyone at Tabor.
   
• In the mid 1980s, a male faculty member engaged in a sexual relationship with a recent female graduate of another independent school either while still an employee of that school or just after his separation from that school.
   
• In the late 1980s, a male faculty member served beer to and had intercourse in his apartment on the Tabor campus with an 18-year-old female Tabor graduate who was then between her freshman and sophomore years in college.

ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATIONS

Between 2016 and 2020, seven (7) additional reports came to the school outside of T&M’s investigation. The information regarded misconduct involving five (5) employees, taking place between the late 1960s and the late 1990s. Six (6) of these reports were deemed credible by Tabor, however four (4) of the reporting survivors chose not to meet with an investigator; as such, no findings were made. Two (2) of the survivors met with an investigator but the school did not request the investigator to issue findings. The seventh report was investigated by another firm and resulted in findings regarding conduct with students in previous employment at another school:

• While employed at another independent school during the late 1980s and early 1990s, a male faculty member engaged in misconduct with two students at that other independent school. With one student, the former employee engaged in grooming behaviors, provided alcohol to, and kissed and hugged, the student. With the second student, the former employee engaged in sexual activity with the student when she was 18 years old and a high school senior and following her graduation. 

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

The investigations included conduct that ranged from inappropriate boundary crossing to physical and sexual contact to sexual assault. The behaviors described were at best inappropriate and at worst abusive or criminal. They all fall far outside the professional expectations for adult-student relationships at our school.

Several individuals who came forward expressed strong concerns regarding their privacy, and some shared information only with the understanding that the school would do all that it could to ensure their privacy. In honoring the privacy of these survivors and to avoid unintentionally causing their identification, we will not identify the employees who were investigated and/or found to have committed misconduct.

On behalf of the leadership of Tabor Academy, we wish to express our deepest apologies that members of our community experienced any type of misconduct or abuse. These acts are a gross violation of the trust families place in our school to support and care for their children, and we are profoundly sorry for the harm they caused to our students and their families.

While the investigations were underway, school leaders and trustees worked to support the survivors and achieve outcomes that were consistent with their duties to safeguard the mission and values of the school. This was a long and careful process, which could not have happened without the courage of all survivors and the engagement of witnesses. We are deeply grateful to them all.

The safety and wellbeing of our students is paramount. It is our most solemn responsibility, and as such we must continue to learn from incidents where employees of the school failed in their obligations to be protective – emotionally, physically, ethically, or legally – of students who were in Tabor’s care. We must continue to examine our school’s culture to ensure that it is one that promotes healthy relationships and supports open communication between students and trusted adults. Driven by the anger and sorrow we feel at the information we learned through these investigations, and inspired by the courageous survivors, we are committed to continuing to do all that we can to ensure that the Tabor students of today and tomorrow are cared for and protected at our school.

In the immediate aftermath of receipt of findings from T&M and additional investigations, the school responded in several ways. The safety of students at Tabor and other institutions is of utmost concern. To our fullest knowledge, Tabor has, in all cases of sexual misconduct with students addressed in these investigations, notified other educational institutions where perpetrators have worked before or after employment at Tabor of our findings. The school also made reports to the local police and the appropriate State agency.

PERMANENTLY BANNED PERPETRATORS

In addition, Tabor took steps to ensure the perpetrators of sexual misconduct with Tabor students are not part of on-going Tabor initiatives. These actions include:

• Issued letters stating perpetrators are not permitted to enter the Tabor Academy campus consistent with the Massachusetts Trespass statute, G.L.c. 266 sec. 120
• Made reports to local authorities and Tabor Security
• Removed all perpetrators from Tabor communications and outreach
• Instituted a database code system to alert Tabor employees to not engage if contacted

ENHANCEMENTS TO EXISTING CHILD PROTECTION MEASURES

After Tabor was first made aware of these reports of misconduct, school leadership began a review of its existing child protection policies and protocols. This process continued after T&M shared their findings with the Board and school leadership and included:

• Expansion of fingerprinting and criminal history checks of all employees
• Criminal history checks (CORI/SORI) of all employees, previously conducted only at point of hire, is now repeated every 3 years
• Sexual harassment and boundary training for Tabor employees is now conducted annually by a law firm with expertise in this area
• Expansion of hours for the Health Center to be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Expansion of Campus Security services to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Employee handbooks have been modified with additions for:
  • Explicit protocols around the process for the reporting of abuse or neglect at Tabor as mandated by Massachusetts law
  • School expectations for responding to and communicating about situations which do not meet that threshold but might impact student health or safety
  • A policy that explicitly states that engaging in a romantic and/or sexual relationship with a student is prohibited and that any school employee who becomes aware of any such activity is required to report it to school leadership
• The Life at Tabor-Student Handbook has been modified with additions for:
  • A clear statement prohibits sexual activity of any and all kinds between students (current or prospective) and any employee.
  • A section which discusses school policy and response to sexual intimacy between students and defines consent
  • Expanded definitions of bullying, hazing, assault, and harassment as well as the process for reporting complaints
  • A Safe Haven policy applicable to sexual assault, including how to seek help confidentially
  • The procedure that employees must follow for reporting child abuse or neglect

RECENT AND UPCOMING INITIATIVES TO PROMOTE STUDENT SAFETY AND WELLBEING

In a committed, caring community this work is never done. As we continue to learn more about best practices in keeping children safe, we regularly modify and enhance our policies, protocols, and practices. Going forward we plan to focus on enhancing overall student safety and wellbeing, and much of this work is already underway. Specifically:

• The Student Life Office has hired two new positions:
  • Director of Student Wellness
  • Director of Residential Life
• The Student Life Office is building a set of community norms and expectations
• The Student Life Office is developing a new residential life curriculum

While these actions and intentions are only a broad outline of the Board and school’s commitments to ensuring student safety and well-being, they represent a critical body of work in the school’s efforts to learn from our own history. We are committed to building the very best systems of support and protection for our students and alumni in perpetuity.

What prompted this investigation?

The investigation was initiated in response to allegations from courageous survivors and witnesses that were brought to the attention of then Head of School in June of 2016. School leadership wanted to provide support for individual who experienced sexual misconduct by a Tabor employee while enrolled at school. The school also sought to take responsibility for these acts and to use the findings about what occurred to inform corrective measures to make Tabor a stronger and safer community for students today and in the future.

Why are you sharing this information now?

When Head of School Tony Jaccaci and Board Chair Regina Shakin began their positions of leadership last year and learned of the investigation and mediations, they understood it was their responsibility to review, discuss, and process what they learned before they could properly communicate the outcome with the community. Over the past year, they worked to understand what transpired in the past, including the reports, investigations, and the institution’s mediations with survivors. It has become clear that Tabor needed to fully address the extensive investigations and the safety and emotional wellbeing of students, past and present. The school feels it is important to share what we have learned so that we may continue to improve our community and help those who have been hurt.

How many employees were accused of misconduct? What did the investigation determine?

T&M received reports of misconduct identifying twenty-three (23) employees; reports to the school outside of T&M’s investigation identified an additional three (3) employees. As a result of a combination of T&M’s investigations, third party reports, and Tabor’s direct contact with survivors, Tabor Academy learned that thirteen (13) former employees committed sexual misconduct with fourteen (14) Tabor students, two (2) non-Tabor students, two (2) Tabor graduates, and one (1) non-Tabor graduate.

Are any current employees subject to these findings?

No. No current Tabor Academy employees are the subjects of these findings, nor were they accused of misconduct as part of these investigations.
 

How long did the actual investigation take?

Reports came in between 2016-2020, and the T&M investigation took place between 2016-2017, with additional investigations taking place in 2019-2021. These investigations addressed conduct reportedly occurring over a period from 1967-2000.

Have there been lawsuits filed against the school?

No lawsuits were filed against the school; however, the school did enter mediation with several of the survivors.

Did the scope of the investigation include student-on-student misconduct?

While the investigation was primarily focused on employee misconduct, a small number of reports of student-on-student misconduct were made to T&M, and those reports were investigated. However, T&M was unable to make findings related to these reports.

Did the scope of the investigation include a policy and protocol review?

While that was not part of the scope of the investigation, in the fall of 2016 the school engaged an outside legal firm with expertise in child protection in independent schools to conduct a review of both the school’s employee and student handbooks and the policies articulated within them. Since 2016, the school has been actively engaged in updating and improving our policies and practices for both preventing and reporting sexual misconduct.

Why aren’t you naming the perpetrators?

Several individuals who came forward expressed strong concerns regarding their privacy, and some shared information with the understanding that the school would do all that it could to ensure their privacy. In honoring the privacy of these survivors and to avoid unintentionally causing their identification, we will not identify the employees who were named in the investigations and/or found to have committed misconduct.

Have perpetrators worked at other educational institutions? If so, has Tabor notified them of these findings?

Yes, some of the perpetrators have worked at other educational institutions, either before or after their employment at Tabor. To our fullest knowledge, Tabor has, in all cases of sexual misconduct with students identified in these investigations, notified other educational institutions where perpetrators have worked of our findings. The school has also made reports to the local police and the appropriate state agency.

What did you learn from this process that will make Tabor safer?

Nothing is more important than our obligation to protect the children entrusted to our care. The Board and the school have made extensive commitments and taken actions in response to the findings of the investigations. Doing so requires robust programs, policies and protocols, and the attention of everyone in the community. Since the investigations began, the school has made numerous additions and enhancements to its child protection measures. You can read more about these corrective actions in Addendum 3.

Who is currently tending to and overseeing the ongoing corrective actions work?

As the Head of School, Tony Jaccaci, with the support of Tabor’s Board, is ultimately responsible for the safety and wellbeing of Tabor students, however, doing all that we can to make our community safe for our students is the responsibility of every adult employee at Tabor. This work is never finished. We train all Tabor employees annually as to their professional and legal responsibilities around reporting misconduct, abuse, and neglect. In addition, in recent years we have added additional layers of student support—counselors, class deans, security personnel—many of whom have direct responsibility for regularly evaluating and enhancing student supports, curriculum, speakers, and programming.

How do I know my child is safe? How will the school keep students safe from sexual misconduct?

Addendum 3 outlines the school’s response regarding corrective actions, and shares many of the efforts made by our school since the investigation began to make our school safer than it was decades ago.

The letter mentioned training was done; what was it?

An outside law firm provides training to employees on appropriate boundaries, preventing and recognizing signs of sexual misconduct, and mandated reporting. This training began at the time of these investigations and is repeated every year.

Who was, or is in contact with survivors? Who is continuing that important work with so many newer administrators?

The former Head and Interim Head of School were both in communication with, and/or had in-person meetings with, survivors who wished to speak with school leadership. Other survivors chose to only meet with T&M. Current Head of School Tony Jaccaci has been in contact with several of the survivors, as well, and he remains dedicated to working with survivors. Survivors are encouraged to contact our school at any time.

How will you continue to support the survivors and any survivors who might come forward now that this letter has been sent?

During the investigations, we shared with survivors who had courageously come forward that the school was committed to supporting their journeys in any way it could. That has meant different things to different individuals. We have taken our lead from them and will continue to do so with them and any other survivors who may come forward.  

Is what was released a full report?

Tabor has released a summary of investigatory findings from the various investigations. This summary has been drafted in a manner that protects the identity of the survivors and witnesses who participated in the investigation.

Is the investigation complete? Is the school still working to address matters related to these reports?

While the investigations of reports brought to our attention are complete, we know that there is still more work to do. This includes further assessing any actions relative to all individuals who may have been involved with reported misconduct, continuing to improve Tabor’s policies and procedures, and addressing any additional reports that may arise in the future. We are committed to taking all appropriate corrective actions and have assembled a Task Force that is responsible for continuing to examine the details of these and any future allegations.

If I have comments, concerns, or questions about the process, findings, or child protection measures, who should I contact?

We welcome your feedback and questions. Please contact Head of School Tony Jaccaci at headofschool@taboracademy.org. If you wish to share a report about Tabor employee misconduct with our investigation team at T&M USA, please contact jfreudenheim@tmusallc.com. If you wish to contact law enforcement regarding employee sexual misconduct at Tabor, you may contact the Plymouth County District Attorney’s office at 508-894-2505 or the Marion Police Department at 508-748-3511.

To speak with someone about concerns or to report employee sexual misconduct at Tabor Academy, please contact one of the following individuals.

• Head of School Tony Jaccaci at headofschool@taboracademy.org
• T&M USA Investigator Julie Freudenheim at jfreudenheim@tmusallc.com

If you wish to contact law enforcement regarding employee sexual misconduct at Tabor, you may contact of the following departments:

• Plymouth County District Attorney at 508-894-2505
• Marion Police Department at 508-748-3511