PITTSFIELD — A former leader of Miss Hall’s School will be arraigned on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, on a charge stemming from the continuing investigation into allegations of sexual abuse at the private girls’ school.
Jeannie Norris, 80, who served as head of school from 1996 to 2012, is scheduled to be arraigned at 2:00 p.m. Monday in Berkshire Superior Court on one count of reckless endangerment of a child, according to the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office.
A Berkshire County grand jury indicted Norris on July 22. Prosecutors allege Norris knew that longtime teacher Matthew Rutledge was engaging in inappropriate relationships with students and received numerous reports about his alleged misconduct during her tenure.
According to an investigative report that was commissioned by Miss Hall’s School’s Board of Trustees, prepared by Aleta Law, and released on Aug. 18, 2025, Norris was aware of allegations concerning Rutledge as early as the 1990s, when she characterized a student’s claim that he was having sex with international students as “defamatory,” although records do not show the school investigated the claim.
Rutledge, who taught at Miss Hall’s from 1991 until his resignation in 2024, was indicted in March on three counts of rape involving two former students. He pleaded not guilty during his arraignment in April, and his case remains pending.
In a statement reported by the Daily Voice in July, Norris’ attorney, Joseph C. Merschman, said she “vehemently denies the allegations” and maintained that she knew nothing of Rutledge’s alleged abuse until spring 2024, when she was “shocked and heartbroken” to learn of the allegations.
The Berkshire District Attorney’s Office said that Norris’ arraignment on Monday will use a hybrid format. Prosecutors will appear in court, while Norris and her attorney will participate through Zoom. The public may join the Zoom call using meeting ID 160 474 3986; no password is required. The case docket number is 2676CR00116.
