Boston Latin Head Master Resigns

BOSTON – The head master of the nation's first public school has resigned, Boston Latin School officials announced Tuesday.

Calls for the resignation of BLS Head Master Lynne Mooney Teta had grown since January, after allegations of racially charged incidents became national news.

Allegations of rampant racism at Boston Latin made the New York Times when two of the school's black students, Meggie Noel, 17, and Kyle Webster-Cazeua, 18, complained of discriminatory comments, outing the school in a series of YouTube videos and creating the #BlackAtBLS hashtag.

Controversy at the exam school grew in March when a Boston Public Schools investigation into a lynching comment one student made to another student was deemed to have been mishandled. After cries from civil rights groups and community leaders that the investigation by BPS did not suffice, U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz announced her office would conduct its own investigation into the allegations.

In addition to the #BlackAtBLS scandal, the school was also at the center of an investigation by DigBoston into the handling of a special education student who provided information to BLS administrators regarding the alleged distribution of pornographic videos among students.

Below is a copy of Mooney Teta's letter of resignation, sent to the BLS community on Tuesday:

June 21, 2016

Dear Boston Latin School Community:

After considerable reflection, I have made the decision to step down as the head master of Boston Latin School effective the end of this school year. This has been a very difficult decision, but one which I believe is in the best interest of our students, faculty and our historic institution. I believe that it is time for a new head master to lead the school and carry on the tradition of excellence.

While I am saddened to leave Boston Latin School -- the school from which I graduated in 1986 and which first inspired me to become an educator -- I believe that our mission remains steadfast. Boston Latin School has and will continue to provide an unparalleled contemporary classical education to our students so that they may pursue successful college studies, become responsible and engaged citizens, and enjoy a rewarding life.

We have faced challenges this year, and I have been greatly encouraged by the commitment of students, faculty, families and alumni to work together to collaboratively address issues of racism and discrimination in our community.

Over the nine years of my tenure as head master, we have built the foundation to create a more welcoming and inclusive school environment. There is still more work that needs to be done. However, I am confident that the school community is moving in the right direction, and will continue to advance the progress that has been made.

I would like to express my gratitude to Superintendent Tommy Chang for all of his support. I am also thankful for all of the students, families, faculty, alumni and colleagues who have contributed in positive ways to the evolution of our school into a nationally recognized model of exemplary urban education.

Sumus Primi!

LMT

And here is a copy of a letter from BPS Superintendent Tommy Chang sent to the Boston School Committee, following Mooney Teta's resignation:

Dear Boston School Committee Members:

Today, I accepted the resignation of Lynne Mooney Teta, effective at the end of this school year. I want to thank Dr. Teta for her tremendous dedication to Boston Latin School and the Boston Public Schools. We at BPS celebrate her legacy of carrying on the BLS tradition of being a national model of the very best in public education, and further increasing the academic rigor of this great institution, the country’s oldest public school.

During her nine years as head master, BLS significantly expanded access to Advanced Placement courses, increasing participation by 50 percent (from 645 students to more than 1,000 sitting for exams) while also raising passing rates from 80 percent to a nationally recognized 90 percent. Through the school’s commitment to the districtwide Exam School Initiative, the percentage of BPS students earning admission to BLS has also climbed from 35 percent to 62 percent. Meanwhile, this year’s graduating class of 411 students has gained admission to the most selective colleges around the country and abroad, and earned more than $25 million in scholarships. Twenty-eight students will be joining the class of 2020 at Harvard College, more than any other secondary school in the world. In recent months, several students bravely shined a light on the issue of cultural proficiency at BLS, illuminating a problem that exists not only at this school but across our city and country. Under Lynne’s guidance, BLS faculty worked with student leaders to develop a comprehensive plan to create a more welcoming and inviting environment for all students. These efforts must continue, but I feel confident that the steps taken have firmly put BLS on a path of continued growth.

As we look to conduct a national search for the next Boston Latin head master, I want to urge the BLS community to come together and support the transitional leadership team. Boston Latin School represents an educational experience that is unrivaled among public and private schools, and we are committed to ensuring that its tradition of excellence continues to thrive.

Sincerely,

Tommy Chang

Superintendent