Suffield Academy removes headmaster Charles Cahn III amid IRS probe

Suffield Academy, a boarding school in Connecticut, is managing a public relations crisis after removing its long-time headmaster during a federal tax inquiry. The school announced on Oct. 22 that Charles Cahn III, who had led the institution for 22 years, was placed on leave effective immediately. The decision came after the administration learned of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service involving Cahn.

Cahn was scheduled to retire at the end of the 2026-2027 school year. Until his sudden departure, he was considered a transformational figure at the nearly two-century-old school. The academy enrolls about 420 students on a 350-acre campus located between Springfield and Hartford. Just days before the announcement, the school held a celebration in his honor during parents' weekend.

Since the news broke, the school has provided limited information to the community. Casey Bobo, who was named as Cahn's successor, sent an email to the school community on Oct. 27. That message did not mention Cahn or the IRS investigation. The school has declined to answer questions from reporters. Current and former board members say the administration has hired a crisis public relations agency to handle the situation.

Tracy O'Keefe, a board member, said officials have assured the board that the investigation concerns only Cahn's personal finances. She stated that the school is cooperating with the IRS and providing requested information. Frederic B. Powers III, the board chair who signed the original announcement, described the matter as private. He told reporters he could not comment on the details.

Cahn did not respond to requests for comment, and the IRS also remained silent. In the absence of official statements, rumors have spread among alumni and families on campus. One parent of recent graduates, who asked not to be named, said, "Everyone loved Charlie."

During his tenure, Cahn oversaw a major expansion of the school's facilities. The school invested $120 million in construction and renovations, including new athletic centers, a dining hall, and academic buildings. His fundraising efforts helped the school's endowment surpass $100 million last year. That figure was double the value of the endowment from six years prior.

Cahn's compensation reflected his role in growing the school's resources. According to publicly available tax returns, his total compensation topped $1 million each year from 2020 through 2024. This pay exceeded that of heads at other elite New England boarding schools, including Andover, Exeter, Deerfield, and Groton. The board recently created an endowment called the Charles Cahn III Head of School Chair to honor his impact.

The Cahn family has been deeply integrated into the school's identity for decades. Cahn arrived in his 20s as an English teacher and lacrosse coach. He became head of school in 2004 at age 34. He married Hillary Rockwell, a fellow teacher who was raised on the campus. The couple raised their two children at the school and continued to feature their family in marketing materials.

Annual tuition for boarding students at Suffield Academy is $79,400. About two-thirds of the student body lives on campus, and about one-fifth are international students. Cahn was due to travel to Seoul, Shanghai, Beijing, San Francisco, Boston, and New York City for alumni events in the months following his departure.

The school continues to feature the Cahn Scholars Fund in its fundraising materials. This scholarship program supports lower-income students. The Cahn family helped select applicants for these awards as a way to extend their legacy beyond Cahn's planned retirement.