The former headmaster of an all-girls private high school in Western Massachusetts has pleaded not guilty to a charge of reckless endangerment related to allegations that she failed to protect students from a teacher accused of sexual assault. Jeannie Norris, who led Miss Hall’s School in Pittsfield from 1996 to 2012, appeared via Zoom on Monday in Berkshire Superior Court. Now 80 years old and residing in Durham, North Carolina, Norris was released on her own recognizance and is required to notify probation officials of any changes to her address or phone number. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for November 18.

Prosecutors allege that during Norris’s tenure, multiple concerns about Matthew Rutledge, a longtime history teacher at the school, were raised but that she allowed him to continue teaching for more than a decade despite these warnings. Rutledge, who worked at Miss Hall’s from 1991 until 2024, faces three counts of rape involving two former students. He has pleaded not guilty to these charges.

The criminal investigation into the school began after two alumnae, who graduated in 2005 and 2010, came forward with accusations of abuse during their time as students. The Berkshire Eagle initially reported the allegations earlier this year. According to Norris’s attorney, Jim Glasser, she strongly denies the reckless endangerment charge. Glasser stated that Norris was unaware of Rutledge’s alleged abuse while employed at the school and was “shocked and heartbroken” upon learning about the accusations in the spring of 2024. He affirmed that Norris intends to vigorously defend herself against the charge.

Authorities have encouraged anyone with information regarding abuse at Miss Hall’s School to contact the Berkshire State Police Detective Unit. The investigation remains active as the case proceeds through the legal system.