Fessenden School Administrator Accused Of Sexual Misconduct, Put On Leave

NEWTON, MA — The Fessenden School is back in the spotlight yet again with a new allegation of sexual misconduct, this time against a current administrator. That staff member,a current administrator and former teacher, has been placed on leave as police investigate the accusation of sexual misconduct against him that stems from the 1990s.

Fessenden School officials sent home a letter to school community members saying the school was taking the accusations against residential life director Kenneth Howe seriously, according to The Boston Globe, which first reported the news after it obtained the letter.

“Given that the well-being of our students is paramount, this investigation will continue, and Mr. Howe will remain off campus on administrative leave,” the letter from Headmaster David Stettler reads wrote the Globe. Howe reportedly denied any misconduct.

Howe has a high rating among students according to the online teacher rating at RateMyTeachers.com, which allows students to grade their teachers anonymously.

One person wrote there in 2006, "Excellent dorm parent, great personality very fair, cares about others, can communicate well, excellent teacher from the get go even as a newbie in the mid 80s A."

Fessenden School officials did not immediately respond to request for comment.

In 2014, well-known victims attorney Mitchell Garabedian filed a lawsuit against the Fessenden School, seeking monetary damage for sexual abuse that took place there four decades ago, the Newton TAB's Jim Morrison reported at the time.

"According to the West Newton boarding school, the number of boys sexually assaulted by assistant headmaster Arthur Clarridge and other former staff is unclear, though the total is thought to include at least six students," reported Morrison.

Read the Globe story here: Fessenden School official on leave amid sexual misconduct allegation

Read the TAB story here: Attorney planning sexual abuse lawsuit against Fessenden School

Image of Fessenden School via Google Maps image capture.