Suffield Academy removes headmaster

Charles Cahn III, the long-time headmaster of Suffield Academy, has been placed on immediate leave following the discovery of an Internal Revenue Service investigation into his personal finances. The announcement, made on October 22, ended a 22-year tenure that was scheduled to conclude with his retirement next summer. Cahn, who led the school for over two decades, was set to retire at the end of the 2026-2027 academic year.

School officials told board members that the probe targets only Cahn’s individual financial matters and does not extend to the institution’s own books. Tracy O’Keefe, a current board member, stated that the school is cooperating with the IRS and providing requested information. The board has retained a crisis public relations agency to manage the situation. Frederic B. Powers III, the board chair who signed the initial notice, described the matter as private and declined further comment.

The sudden departure has left parents and alumni without clear updates from the administration. Casey Bobo, the newly appointed head of school and Cahn’s designated successor, sent an email to the community on October 27 that did not mention Cahn or the tax inquiry. The school has declined to answer specific questions, allowing rumors to spread through campus and alumni networks. One parent of recent graduates noted that the family had been left in the dark since the news broke.

Cahn was a central figure in the school’s recent growth. His fundraising efforts contributed to a $120 million investment in campus construction, including new athletic centers, a dining hall, and academic buildings. Under his leadership, the endowment grew to surpass $100 million, a figure that doubled its value from just six years prior. Powers and trustee emeritus Daniel R. Tisch cited the endowment’s growth as a central focus of Cahn’s work.

The headmaster’s compensation reflected his role in expanding the school’s financial resources. Public tax returns show that his total compensation exceeded $1 million annually from 2020 through 2024. This pay package was higher than that of leaders at other elite New England boarding schools, including Andover, Exeter, Deerfield, and Groton. The board had previously struck a retention agreement to secure his continued service.

Suffield Academy, a boarding school of approximately 420 students, charges annual tuition of $79,400 for its residential students. Roughly two-thirds of the student body lives on campus, while one-fifth are international students. Cahn, who joined the faculty in his twenties as an English teacher and lacrosse coach, rose to the headmaster position at age 34 in 2004. He and his wife, Hillary Rockwell, were deeply embedded in the school’s culture, with their children attending the institution.

The school had been preparing to celebrate Cahn’s legacy in the weeks leading up to his leave. A celebration was held during parents' weekend just days before the announcement. Plans for alumni events in Seoul, Shanghai, Beijing, San Francisco, Boston, and New York City were also in motion. The Cahn Scholars Fund, a scholarship program for lower-income students, continued to feature prominently in marketing materials, with the Cahn family helping to select recipients.