Dear Nardin Academy Board of Trustees and Nardin Community, 

We feel compelled to respond to the May 1, 2023 statement by Nardin Academy, which wholly mischaracterizes the voices of thousands of concerned parents, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and donors as “Nardin’s Critics.” Rather, we are grassroots Nardin supporters deeply concerned about the education and well-being of our children, their school, and its legacy.

The Board of Trustees has completely failed Nardin stakeholders by wholly abandoning its fiduciary duties.  We have asked for answers, none have been provided.  We have asked for transparent communication, but continue to be attacked. We have asked for an explanation from the Board for their inaction, but have been met with silence. Instead of providing productive responses, the President and certain representatives of the Board of Trustees continue to promulgate divisiveness by stonewalling major stakeholders by demanding that judgment be withheld pending the results of what is now an obsolete assessment. Dr. Betters’ ongoing silence in the setting of this emerging crisis further underscores and exemplifies her inability to execute her duties as President. Embattled leaders don’t hide; they demonstrate their value.

The window of opportunity is closing this week for concerned parents who need to plan for their children's future education and are unwilling to continue that education under Dr. Betters’ leadership.  The continued inaction of the Board has compelled Nardin-devoted parents, all of whom are deeply committed to their children’s education, to consider a swift exit in light of so many unanswered questions and an uncertain future. 

Dr. Betters’ 2022 doctoral thesis, "Belongingness, Well-being & Self-Care: Disrupting An Academic Schedule in An All-Girls Catholic School,” affirms her apparent personal convictions that are fundamentally incompatible with any ongoing role related to the education of students at Nardin Academy.  First, she suggests that an all-girls Catholic education is foundationally flawed. Second, instead of embracing teachers as a cornerstone to building community and belonging for young students, she only mentions them in her thesis to the extent that they were not on board or did not have the proper perspective related to her proposed initiatives.  She has clearly alienated teachers at Nardin, which ultimately undermines her stated goal of building community and belongingness for Nardin students. What is more, her thesis is largely antagonistic to Nardin’s core principles of academic rigor, excellence, faith, and success, the very reasons that so many parents send their children to this institution.  

We implore the Board of Trustees to take immediate action to remove Dr. Betters from any role within Nardin Academy and request that the Board of Trustees provide notification of Dr. Betters's resignation or removal as President of Nardin Academy by Friday, May 5th at 9 am. Undoubtedly, this situation is complex. The Nardin community and its most important constituents - current parents and students - deserve a modicum of assurance regarding the future of the school.  Indeed, the Board must take this first critical step so that the Nardin community can rebuild, fortify, and uplift Nardin together.

Nardin Together