Message to the Tower Hill Community, March 30, 2015

Dear Tower Hill community:

Over Spring Break, we learned that Dr. Christopher Wheeler's sentencing hearing has been postponed until April 24. Although there very likely will be an appeal in the case, the sentencing will mark the end of an 18-month investigation and prosecution of Dr. Wheeler by law enforcement authorities.

As such, it is timely to inform you of the results of Tower Hill's own investigation. In February of last year we advised you that Kroll Consulting had been retained to conduct an independent investigation of the hiring of Dr. Wheeler in 2004 and his tenure as Head of School from 2005-2013. Kroll is the largest private investigation firm in the world and previously conducted investigations of sexual misconduct at other independent schools. Kroll's investigation regarding Dr. Wheeler was exhaustive. Delayed at the request of law enforcement, the investigation lasted six months and Kroll conducted an extensive number of interviews. Ninety people were interviewed, including members of the 2004 search committees; past and present Board members, administrators, faculty and staff; present and former students and parents; neighbors of the former Head of School; and others Kroll believed may have relevant knowledge. As part of this process, we publicly encouraged anyone in the Tower Hill community with information to contact Kroll. All available documents concerning Dr. Wheeler were reviewed, and Kroll was in contact with law enforcement officials both in Delaware and Illinois.

Most importantly, Kroll found no evidence that Dr. Wheeler abused any student at Tower Hill. This finding is corroborated by the law enforcement investigation, which also uncovered no evidence of any abuse by Dr. Wheeler at Tower Hill. Further, the Kroll investigation found no evidence that anyone at Tower Hill knew or should have known that he was engaged in child pornography or any sexual misconduct. In fact, no one interviewed by Kroll said they knew, heard of, or suspected any sexual misconduct by Dr. Wheeler.

Regarding the hiring of Dr. Wheeler, Kroll found that the search and vetting process was "thorough, comprehensive and conscientiously executed." There were no "red flags" of any abusive misconduct by Dr. Wheeler, either during the vetting process before he was hired or during his tenure as Head of School. When allegations of abuse became known upon the police investigation, Dr. Wheeler was removed as Head of School. Kroll also consulted with the Head of School search committee last year, and, in addition to the routine background checks on the final group of candidates, performed an in-depth vetting of our new Head of School.

Kroll assessed Tower Hill's child protection policies and procedures, specifically including our implementation of background checks for hiring personnel and clearing volunteer coaches, chaperones and others with access to students. With input from Kroll, we have enhanced these policies and procedures, including the training of our faculty and staff in the prevention, identification, response to and reporting of child abuse. This training has been conducted by the Delaware Department of Justice, and by professionals using the Stewards of Children program, and will continue on an annual basis.

This has been an exceedingly painful event in our school's history. We sincerely regret the fear and anguish this situation has caused our students, parents, faculty and staff, and our alumni.

We wish to thank all of those who cooperated and provided information during the course of this investigation. And we greatly appreciate and acknowledge the students, parents and alumni who offered their support to our school during this traumatic period. As upsetting and distressing as this situation has been, we believe that by addressing the Wheeler matter, our entire school community has become better informed, our students are safer, and our school is stronger.

Sincerely,

Harry Baetjer

Head of School 

 

Earl Ball
Board Chair