In the wake of charges brought against Tabor Academy Head of School John Quirk on January 31 in Bourne for driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and driving at excessive speed, Tabor Academy’s Board of Trustees deliberated and came to a decision to retain Quirk as Head of School based on the institution’s “two-strike” policy and a belief in his ability to continue leading the prep school. On February 11 in Falmouth District Court, the case was continued without a finding, essentially leaving Quirk’s fate in the hands of the school’s Board of Trustees. On February 13, the board sent the following letter to the Tabor community.
As you may be aware, our Head of School, John Quirk, was charged on January 31 with operating a vehicle while driving under the influence of alcohol and at an excessive speed. Many of us were with John for a trustee dinner on campus earlier in the evening, and we were surprised to learn of this incident in the following days.
Thank you for your patience and support as we collected information and deliberated on the matter. The Board has met on multiple occasions and was guided by what is best for our students and our entire school community, as well as by Tabor’s mission and values.
As you know, safety has been one of the highest priorities of our great school and we work tirelessly to reduce risk in our community through awareness, education and the enforcement of carefully constructed rules of conduct. Drinking and driving while speeding was a crime which posed an extreme danger and a violation of our rules of conduct, prompting the Tabor Board of Trustees to evaluate his ability to lead our school.
After careful consideration, John will remain Head of School. Although gravely irresponsible, John’s recent action does not outweigh all that he has accomplished at Tabor or the continued progress we expect him to lead as Head of School. We believe that his legacy is found in the thousands of students who have graduated during his tenure and are now uplifting the world with the ability and purpose he has helped instill within them. John Quirk has contributed greatly to our efforts to fulfill the promise of Tabor Academy and offer students the greatest boarding school community experience. John has given his life to Tabor and, together with all of the faculty and staff, he has created a highly supportive community that values the experience of learning, one which includes the lessons derived from the mistakes, challenges and forgiveness along the educational path. Through the work of Tabor’s Disciplinary Committee and “two strike” policy, he has shown the students and families fairness including providing second chances and opportunities for redemption.
John has expressed deep regret regarding his actions. As part of the goal of personal accountability which is embraced at Tabor, John will be addressing students and parents and all of our community stakeholders to express his apologies, and to share what he learned and continues to learn from this incident. John will also suffer the consequences of his actions as dictated by the justice system. In addition, although we cannot provide details, as would be the case for any human resource decision, the board has implemented a number of remedial and constructive disciplinary actions based on John’s transgression. The Board believes that these actions are tailored to, and appropriate for, the nature and gravity of the situation, and will ultimately make John a better Head of School.
We wish to thank the many who have contacted us and provided input on how the news of this incident has affected you and your families. Thank you for sharing with us the importance Tabor has in your lives, and how John’s actions have impacted Tabor’s culture. An overwhelming number of you, while not approving of John’s actions, have been supportive of John and urged that he remain Head of School. Others have expressed concern and displeasure for his continued role. Although our decision was made based on our obligations as trustees, the overwhelming support for John helped to validate our belief in the value he has contributed to the school.
It is our belief that John can continue to help Tabor fulfill its mission, and it is our commitment to you that we continue to monitor, care for, and protect all that we have built as Tabor heads into an extraordinary future.
Thank you,
Tabor Academy Board of Trustees
As I said before, this is a shame on the school, parents and what about all those students that were expelled with no “second chance” some in final weeks or days in some cases in senior year. Why the special treatment for one who is supposed to uphold the rules? I spent majority of my career in a position of authority and if I did this I would have been fired and lost my retirement. The board has done no justice to the tabor community, they have left a lame duck in charge and need to rescind the decision or they will have a firestorm of backlash! This is a insult to tabor and community of Marion.
I agree with Carl. I was a student at tabor over 20 years ago and I can recall numerous classmates being expelled for far less than what Quirk did. The headmaster at the time was a strong leader and to this day will always remain the epitome of “lead by example” for me. The hundreds of students currently at Tabor will not be able to say the same when remembering their headmaster.
Concur, as well, with the responses above. A search for the next headmaster should shortly be underway; regardless of his legacy to date, this man ha placed a stain on the academy, one that will not quickly fade.
People will talk; future enrollment may well be tainted.
Agree with the above. At Brooks School prior to Quirk’s move to Tabor, so many students were not granted the second chance that he is now enjoying. That can be chalked up to school policy at the time, sure. But Quirk had a well-earned reputation of ruthlessness when it came to discipline and, in my opinion, relished in “busting” students. People make mistakes and I don’t believe that Quirk should suffer disproportionately for this offense. But it’s laughable that he should stay in his position as Head.