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Former University School of Nashville leader Amani Reed is suing the school for $22 million after he was fired over his handling of sexual harassment accusations against a teacher, who was also fired.
The board of the private school announced it fired Reed, who served as head of school, earlier this month after a review of how he and the school handled accusations that a now-former teacher groomed and sexually harassed a student last year. A lawyer representing the female student, who has since graduated, sent a letter to the board in August lambasting the school’s response to the situation. The school’s decision also came after students staged a demonstration outside the school in October, calling for Reed’s resignation.
“Ultimately, the Board determined that Director Reed’s actions and inactions created significant harm, which led the Board to the decision that he is unable to lead USN,” the school’s board of trustees said in a statement released Jan. 7.
A school spokesperson declined to comment in response to the lawsuit but told The Tennessean, “We remain focused on healing as a community and caring for our students and educators.”
Previously: University School of Nashville leader fired over response to teacher grooming accusations
In the aftermath of the accusations, USN developed a “care plan” to provide support to students, alumni, parents and school employees impacted by the investigation. The plan, along with the full report from the independent review and more details, can be found at usn.org/school-safety.
In the suit, filed on behalf of Reed and his wife in Davidson County Chancery Court on Jan. 17, Reed contends the school breached his contract, misrepresented his role in the response and inflicted emotional distress on him and his wife, among other things. Between his claims related to his firing and other claims included in his suit, Reed alleges he and his wife are entitled to $22 million.
Reed accuses USN of breach of contract
Reed in his lawsuit states that the school did not have cause to fire him and failed to provide to him facts to support his termination when he requested, breaching his employment contract.
He also says the board may not have had the time to fully digest an investigative report into the school’s handling of the sexual harassment allegations, which was published the same day the board voted to fire him. The suit notes that the 78-page report “did not conclude that Mr. Reed had violated any law, ethical standards, code of conduct, USN policies, or fiduciary duty while employed at USN.”
Reed also contends the board downplayed its role in the controversy, stating that the investigative report found the board’s actions — in particular its decision to reject a meeting requested by the accusing student and to refuse to share information with her — “eroded the community’s confidence and trust in the Board and its ability to manage the current crisis.”
Reed brings fraud claims relating to start of employment
Reed in the same lawsuit also accuses the school of fraud for withdrawing a housing benefit promised in his employment contract, which he says enticed him to leave his previous job in New York in 2021. He states the school did not raise his pay to make up for the loss of the housing benefit as he says they promised they would.
Students, families and alumni of the University School of Nashville gather during a walkout in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. The group is demanding two school leaders resign over their handling of sexual harassment allegations made by a recent graduate against a teacher, who was later fired.
University School of Nashville sues former teacher
Last year, USN filed a lawsuit against Dean Masullo, the English teacher accused of sexual harassment and grooming by the student, after his termination for not answering questions in an ongoing investigation into the accusations.
In the lawsuit, filed in October in Davidson County Chancery Court, the school states Masullo committed “several and significant violations of USN employment policies.”
The private school entered into a separation agreement with Masullo, who had been a high school teacher there since 2009, on July 19, the lawsuit stated. The separation agreement provided Masullo with roughly three months’ pay, or $28,443, and required he cooperate with the school and its lawyers “with regard to any past, present or future legal or regulatory matters” relating to his employment, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit against Masullo is pending. As of Monday, no criminal charges had been filed against Masullo in Davidson County.
Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for The Tennessean. Contact him at emealins@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Fired University School of Nashville leader sues for $22M
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