Suffield Academy Head On Leave Amid IRS Investigation

SUFFIELD, CT — Suffield Academy Head of School Charlie Cahn is on leave after school officials learned of an Internal Revenue Service investigation involving him, according to a letter the school provided to Patch.

Casey Bobo, who had already been selected to succeed Cahn in July 2027, has assumed the head of school’s responsibilities.

Board of Trustees President Frederic B. Powers III told the school community in the Oct. 22 letter that officials learned of the investigation the previous day.

“We are cooperating fully with the investigation,” Powers wrote. “Effective immediately, Charlie is on a leave of absence.”

CT Insider reported the leave and investigation Oct. 23. Patch subsequently obtained the letter directly from the school.

Responding to Patch’s questions Oct. 27, Amy Randall provided the letter in place of a separate statement.

“We do not have details beyond what we have shared in the letter,” Randall wrote.

The letter does not describe the nature of the investigation or say how long Cahn’s leave will last.

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Bobo’s move into the role comes ahead of the school’s previously announced leadership transition. In a December 2025 announcement, trustees named her the next head of school, beginning July 1, 2027. Cahn had announced plans to serve through June 2027.

Bobo previously served as assistant head at Dexter Southfield School in Massachusetts.

In the Oct. 22 letter, Powers expressed the board’s confidence in Bobo.

“The Board has every confidence in her judgment, experience, and commitment to our students, faculty, staff, and families,” he wrote.

The academy’s leadership page now lists Bobo as head of school.

“We understand that this announcement may raise questions, and we appreciate your understanding of the limits on what we can share,” Powers wrote.