Facility profile Massachusetts

John Dewey Academy

Closed Great Barrington, Massachusetts

John Dewey Academy was a specialty boarding school in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. It operated from 1985 to 2022.

About John Dewey Academy

It closed in 2022.source It closed in 2023.source It was founded by Thomas Bratter.source

Founder Tom Bratter published three chapters in Volume 30 of the Annals of the American Society for Adolescent Psychiatry (2008), co-authored with Lisa Sinsheimer, Danielle Sara Kaufman, and Jonathan Steven Alter.source Stays lasted 18 to 30 months, average two years.source Its address was 389 Main St, Great Barrington, MA 01230 (Searles Castle).source It cost $98,000 per year.source

Survivor testimony

What people who lived or worked here say happened. Survivors' own words are published with their permission; forum accounts are what was posted publicly and are reported as claims, not findings.

Reported on survivor forums

Timeline

From the records: who ran it and the deals that moved it, its names, and the deaths, incidents, inspection findings, lawsuits and news stories on file. Point at an event, or tap "More about this", for the details.

1985199520042008202219852022

  1. 1985

    1. Opened

      Opened in Great Barrington, Massachusetts

  2. 1995

    1. Incident

      Criminal charge

      In 1995 founder Thomas Bratter pleaded no contest in Connecticut to second-degree unlawful restraint involving a 17-year-old girl and received a suspended...

      Criminal charge

      In 1995 founder Thomas Bratter pleaded no contest in Connecticut to second-degree unlawful restraint involving a 17-year-old girl and received a suspended one-year sentence, 500 hours of community service and a $50,000 donation.

      source

  3. 2004

    1. IncidentAugust 2004

      Lawsuit

      In August 2004 a former student sued the school, Bratter, Steiner and teacher Gwendolyn Hampton, alleging the school failed to oversee a female teacher who...

      Lawsuit August 2004

      In August 2004 a former student sued the school, Bratter, Steiner and teacher Gwendolyn Hampton, alleging the school failed to oversee a female teacher who began a sexual relationship with him.

      source

  4. 2008

    1. Incident

      Arrest

      In 2008 a former resident was arrested and charged with a 2003 rape of a woman in Dyer, Indiana.

      Arrest

      source

  5. 2022

    1. Closed

      Closed

Incidents on record

  1. 1995 Criminal charge

    In 1995 founder Thomas Bratter pleaded no contest in Connecticut to second-degree unlawful restraint involving a 17-year-old girl and received a suspended one-year sentence, 500 hours of community service and a $50,000 donation.source

  2. August 2004 Lawsuit

    In August 2004 a former student sued the school, Bratter, Steiner and teacher Gwendolyn Hampton, alleging the school failed to oversee a female teacher who began a sexual relationship with him.source

  3. 2008 Arrest

    In 2008 a former resident was arrested and charged with a 2003 rape of a woman in Dyer, Indiana.source

  4. Abuse

    HEAL links a Berkshire Eagle article in which former students describe the school as a torture chamber.source

  5. Abuse

    Survivors report punishments including loss of privileges, work tasks, scrubbing, and isolation on marble in view of the school.source

  6. Investigation

    The Boston Globe's Spotlight study of abuse in private schools listed the academy and identified lawsuits against Bratter and Hampton.source

News coverage

  • The Berkshire Eagle Mar 17, 2021 Expose

    Former students allege abuse at Great Barrington boarding school

    Former students of The John Dewey Academy allege that the school employed coercive and shaming practices, including strict diets, degrading signage, and forced labor, as part of its therapeutic program. They also report sexual misconduct by the late founder, Thomas Bratter. The current owner, David Baum, states that such practices have been discontinued.

  • Woodbury Reports Nov 1, 1999 General

    Seen 'n Heard, 11/1999 - Short news clips about Special Schools & Programs

    This industry news compilation reports on staff movements, program updates, and administrative changes across various private residential schools and wilderness programs. It includes a financial investigation involving an executive at an Idaho and Hawaii-based teen-reform program, alongside updates on program length reductions and clinical model adjustments at other facilities.

  • Seen 'n Heard Feb 1, 1995 Corporate

    Seen 'n Heard - Feb, 1995 Issue (page 1)

    The article provides brief updates on several programs and organizations in the troubled‑teen sector, noting administrative changes at Three Springs Residential Treatment Center, new staff appointments at Mount Bachelor Academy, the cessation of Adolescence Magazine, Aspen Health Services' ranking among fast‑growing private companies, and college acceptance rates for John Dewey Academy seniors. The information is presented as a series of factual news items.

  • Woodbury Reports Oct 1, 1994 General

    Opinion & Essays - Oct, 1994 Issue *Letters*

    This article consists of a collection of letters from parents to Woodbury Reports discussing their experiences with various behavioral programs and youth facilities. The correspondence includes parent feedback regarding placements, referrals, and facility visits in 1994.

Staff

Administration

  • Ken Steiner

    Former Dean, Headmaster, Head of School (2008-2013)source

  • Tom Bratter

    Former Founder, President and Founder, Founder and President, Headmaster Emeritus (1985-2012)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • Daytop Village Intern
    • The International Center for the Study of Psychiatry and Psychology board of directors member

  • Carole Bratter

    Former Vice President/Co-Foundersource

Notable staff

  • Andrea Esperat

    Former Dean of Students, Dean of Academics (2011-2013)source

  • Lisa Sinsheimer

    Former Parent Liaison, Admissions Director, Intake Coordinator and Parent Liaison (2006-2014)source

  • Eric Krawcyzk

    Former Dean of Students (2013)source

  • R. Joseph Hoffman

    Former History teacher and chair of the Social Sciences Department (2012)source

  • Evan Hutchison

    Former History and Politics Teacher (2013)source

  • Andrea Nathans

    Former Intake Coordinator and Parent Liaison (2014)source

  • Michael Sletcher

    Former Faculty (2009-2012)source

  • Jovanina Pagano

    Former Staff (2014)source

  • Christian Holland

    Former Teachersource

  • Edgar Chamorro

    Former Teachersource

  • Gwendolyn Hampton

    Former Spanish teacher, counselor and houseparent (2004, r/troubledteens wiki)source

  • Jill Leda Brown

    Former "House Parent"source

  • John Schneyer

    Former Groundskeepersource

  • Judy Oates

    Former "House Parent"source

    Elsewhere in the industry

    • Riverbrook Residence Staff

  • Lisa Buttrey-Thomas

    Former Teachersource

  • Michael Gould

    Former Teachersource

  • Nancy Coiner

    Former Teachersource

  • Phil Freund

    Former Teachersource

  • Robert Andenmatten

    Former Teachersource

  • Sherry Steiner

    Former Teachersource

Connections on the network map

The companies, people and programs our research map ties to this program. Open it on the network map.

Documents

Documents on file (38)
Woodbury Reports Mentions (21)

From the Unsilenced archive

270 documents about John Dewey Academy that Unsilenced collected and Kids Over Profits does not hold a copy of. They open on Unsilenced's Google Drive. Their whole folder: John Dewey Academy.

Documents (270)

From SCIAD NET

1 document about John Dewey Academy that Kids Over Profits does not hold a copy of. SCIAD NET keeps it on Google Drive, where it opens.

Wiki entries

Materials and links

Survivor posts and discussion

Advertising and marketing listings

Reference and research

1 of these from SCIAD NET.

Other links

Record updated . Generated from the Kids Over Profits facility database. Suggest a correction