Rohith Tsundupalli ‘24
The Haverford School’s Head of School abruptly resigned at the end of August prompting many questions about whether or not he was leaving willingly. Shortly before the resignation, Dr. John Nagl co-authored an open letter to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nation’s top military officer, calling on him to ensure that President Trump leaves office if he loses the 2020 election. The letter, posted on a website open to the public stated that Trump was “following the playbook of dictators throughout history” and likened him to Julius Caesar. The letter caused a large outcry among Haverford parents. In the This Is Lower Merion and Narberth online newspaper a parent and alumni of the school said, “Great day for the Haverford School! I commend the Board of Trustees for forcing John Nagl to resign. He has been an embarrassment! Now it is time to also get rid of the two Assistant Heads and the CFO.”
Dr. Nagl attended the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, and the University of Oxford in England. In the United States Armed Forces, he served as a Lieutenant Colonel where he received a Bronze Star Medal. Dr. Nagl currently serves as the ninth head of school. Sarah Garling, from Haverford’s Marketing and Communications Office, says, “[Dr. Nagl] has moved The Haverford School forward in so many important ways, including, most recently, the completion of our $50 million capital campaign, [our] 5-year strategic plan, and the opening of [our] new state-of-the-art Middle School.” However, Nagl has also suffered some personal setbacks in the recent past, including his arrest in 2016 after he allegedly assaulted his son with a chokehold.
Photo Courtesy of Dhilan Lavu.
After contacting The Haverford School regarding his resignation, the administrators declined to comment, instead providing the following statement: “After seven years leading The Haverford School and after much reflection, Head of School Dr. John Nagl has decided to step down at the end of this school year. We are so appreciative of the strong legacy that John leaves behind.”
Tracy Motley, an Upper School math teacher at The Episcopal Academy who had her nephew attend the school under Nagl, shared her opinion, saying, “I think that he had every right to express his personal opinion on what’s going on in the world.” she said. “If his resignation was tied with expressing his political views, I am not comfortable with that. With any prominence to him being the head of an independent school on the Main Line, he represents the values of the school. I’m fine with him expressing his personal opinions, but people should not relinquish who they are due to what job they hold.”
Likewise, a Haverford student, who would like to remain anonymous, said that their peers at THS rarely mention the Headmaster’s article: “I haven’t really discussed it much, but with the people I have, it really matters on their political orientation.” He also continued to say that the article “…was a calculated decision and risk of Nagl’s.”
As of now, The Haverford School is beginning the hiring process, pursuing a “national search” for a proper replacement. Motley comments, “I think the process is going to be a long one, so it’s good they are starting now, but they will have plenty of people who will apply to that position because of the prestige of the Haverford School. Dr. Nagl may appeal to the students that are there now, but the upcoming students will have a closer relationship with the new Head of School. I don’t think that it will be difficult or a challenge to replace him and what he brings to the table. Clearly, there were some aspects to his personality that the school felt the need for him to move on.”
Dr. Nagl later published a letter apologizing for his past actions. Nevertheless, the Haverford institution has decided to move on. However, this brings in a new opportunity for the school, and according to Garling, “[their] determination to challenge young minds will not change, and [their] commitment to preparing boys for life by developing men of character, intellect, and compassion is unwavering.”