St. Paul Academy head resigns after parent sues school

Luis Ottley, the head of St. Paul Academy and Summit School, will resign his post at the prestigious private school later this month. The move comes after a series of controversies involving Ottley.

Last month a parent sued the school, alleging leadership at the academy retaliated against him and his family by threatening to expel their child. The lawsuit alleges the decision came after families had gathered and planned to sign a letter of no confidence in the head of school.

The lawsuit also alleged that school leadership mishandled accusations of sexual harassment against students and censored the student newspaper.

“Dr. Ottley has been a steady and thoughtful leader during what has been a productive and challenging chapter for both our school community and the Twin Cities,” David Kristal, the board president, wrote in an email.

Ottley has served as head of St. Paul Academy since 2022. In a parting note to the school, Ottley said the past few months had “given my family and me a great deal to ponder.”

He said he’d reached his decision to resign after much reflection. “It has been an absolute honor to serve this remarkable community. Together we have navigated some incredibly trying times, both within our school walls and across the Twin Cities,” Ottley wrote in a statement Monday.

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