March 28, 2016

Dear Pingry Parents,

We are writing to you today with distressing news concerning our past that we feel is important to share
with our community. We recently learned from a few of our alumni that students were sexually abused by
Thad Alton, an employee of Short Hills Country Day School from 1972 to 1974 and, following the
merger of the two institutions, an employee of The Pingry School from 1974 to 1978.
After leaving Pingry, Mr. Alton eventually moved to upstate New York and by 1981 was working at a
university there. In 1990, he was convicted in New York State of two counts of sexual abuse of minors.
Mr. Alton was incarcerated until 1995. Currently, he is listed on the New York State Sex Offender
Registry with an address in Manhattan.
We want to assure the Pingry community that we are taking this matter very seriously. We have contacted
local law enforcement, informed them of the allegations, and are committed to assisting them in their
investigation.
While these events took place many years ago, we realize that they continue to cause pain for members of
our community. It is sickening that an educator, entrusted with the responsibility of protecting children,
would cause such suffering. Behavior of this nature is appalling and deplorable.
The safety and well-being of our students are our highest priorities. On a regular basis, Pingry undertakes
a review of its policies and procedures to ensure safeguards are built in to the Schools operating
procedures. In addition to conducting a thorough vetting process prior to hiring an employee, we also vet
members of the community and other visitors to the School prior to allowing them access to our
buildings. Our faculty and staff receive professional development that emphasizes student safety,
maintaining appropriate boundaries, reporting requirements, and vigilance for the detection of
inappropriate behavior. Our students receive education and guidance about appropriate, healthy
relationships, both with peers and with adults, through our health curriculum, advisory system, and peer
leadership program. Our counseling staff on both campuses is closely involved in these efforts and in
creating an environment in which students feel empowered to voice any concerns that they may have.
We are committed to supporting those in our community who have been subject to this unconscionable
behavior. The Board of Trustees has approved the engagement of T&M Protection Resources, a highly
qualified, professional firm with significant experience in matters similar to this, to conduct a thorough,
independent investigation into the events of the 1970s. Once the investigation is complete, we will
provide a further update to the community.
We are reaching out to our alumni to encourage them to come forward if they have additional reports or
information related to Mr. Alton or other information they wish to share with the School. We encourage
you, our parent community, to do the same, and to reach out to our counselors or me with any information
you wish to share.


News of this nature can be difficult for adults to process and is even harder for children to understand. On
the Basking Ridge Campus we will hold an all-school meeting on Tuesday, March 29 at which we will
share the broad outline of what is contained in this letter with the students. We do not plan to address the
Lower School students about this situation in a group setting, but the topics of health and safety are part
of the discussions at Morning Meeting and in Decisions classes throughout the year. If you are looking
for guidance on speaking with your children about sexual abuse, we encourage you to refer to the
resources listed below. Our school counselors are also available to assist with these discussions, and their
contact information is provided below.
We value the confidence that you place in us by entrusting your children to our care, and we appreciate
your continuing partnership.
Sincerely,

Nathaniel E. Conard P 09, 11

Headmaster

Jeffrey N. Edwards 78, P 12, 14, 18

Chair of the Board of Trustees

Counselor Contact Information:

Dr. Mikaela Kilker
908-647-5555 ext. 1378
Dr. Perry Bell
908-647-5555 ext. 1375
Dr. Alyssa Johns
908-647-5555 ext. 1371
Julie Perlow, LCSW
973-379-4550 ext. 1417

mkilker@pingry.org
pbell@pingry.org
ajohns@pingry.org
jperlow@pingry.org

T&M Protection Resources Contact Information:

Laura Kirschstein
212-916-8852

lkirschstein@tmprotection.com

Additional Resources:
KidsHealth.org - How to Handle Abuse

U.S. Department of Justice: Talking to your child about sexual abuse


March 28, 2016
Dear Pingry Alumni,
We are writing to you today with distressing news concerning our past that we feel is important to share with you.
We recently learned from a few of our alumni that students were sexually abused by Thad Alton, an employee of
Short Hills Country Day School from 1972 to 1974 and, following the merger of the two institutions, an employee
of The Pingry School from 1974 to 1978.
After leaving Pingry, Mr. Alton eventually moved to upstate New York and, by 1981, was working at a university
there. In 1990, he was convicted in New York State of two counts of sexual abuse of minors. Mr. Alton was
incarcerated until 1995. Currently, he is listed on the New York State Sex Offender Registry with an address in
Manhattan.
We want to assure you that we are taking this matter very seriously. We have contacted local law enforcement,
informed them of the allegations, and are committed to assisting them in their investigation.
While these events took place many years ago, we realize that they continue to cause pain for members of our
community. It is sickening that an educator, entrusted with the responsibility of protecting children, would cause
such suffering. Behavior of this nature is appalling and deplorable.
The safety and well-being of our students are our highest priorities. On a regular basis, Pingry undertakes a
review of its policies and procedures to ensure safeguards are built in to the Schools operating procedures. In
addition to conducting a thorough vetting process prior to hiring an employee, we vet members of the community
and other visitors to the School prior to allowing them access to our buildings. Our faculty and staff receive
professional development that emphasizes student safety, maintaining appropriate boundaries, reporting
requirements, and vigilance for the detection of inappropriate behavior. Our students receive education and
guidance about appropriate, healthy relationships, both with peers and with adults, through our health curriculum,
advisory system, and peer leadership program. Our counseling staff on both campuses is closely involved in these
efforts and in creating an environment in which students feel empowered to voice any concerns that they may
have.
We are committed to supporting those in our community who have been subject to this unconscionable
behavior. The Board of Trustees has approved the engagement of T&M Protection Resources, a highly
qualified, professional firm with significant experience in matters similar to this, to conduct a thorough,
independent investigation into the events of the 1970s. Once the investigation is complete, we will
provide a further update to the community.
If you have been affected personally, or know anyone who might have been harmed by Mr. Alton, we
encourage you to contact us. We would welcome your phone call, email, or visit. Please reach out to Nat
Conard by phone 908-647-5555 x1232 or email nconard@pingry.org, or contact Laura Kirschstein of
T&M Protection Resources at 212-916-8852 or lkirschstein@tmprotection.com. We will make every
effort to ensure the confidentiality of any information we receive.


We are both deeply pained by and sorry for the harm caused by Mr. Alton, and we wish to be as helpful to and
supportive of his victims as we can be.
Sincerely,

Nathaniel E. Conard, P 09, 11

Headmaster

Jeffrey N. Edwards, 78, P 12, 14, 18

Chair of the Board of Trustees