PITTSFIELD (MA)
WCVB - ABC 5 [Boston MA]
August 20, 2026
By Karen Anderson
Prosecutors say she knew about inappropriate conduct between a teacher and students
A former science teacher at Miss Hall’s School, an elite boarding school in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, was indicted Thursday on three criminal charges in connection with a growing teacher abuse scandal.
Matthew Johnson, 70, of Connecticut, was indicted on charges of assault with intent to rape and two counts of indecent assault and battery on a victim over age 14.
“The Defendant served as a science teacher at Miss. Hall’s School from 1993 to 1994. Evidence gathered during the investigation shows that the Defendant was dismissed from the school in 1994, prior to the end of the school year. The criminal charges all stem from the Defendant’s tenure at the school,” according to a statement from the Berkshire County District Attorney’s Office.
This comes two days after the arraignment of Jeannie Norris, 80, of North Carolina, who faces one count of reckless endangerment of a child for her alleged role in the teacher abuse scandal.
Prosecutors allege Norris received multiple reports of inappropriate conduct between a teacher, Matthew Rutledge, and his students.
Rutledge was indicted earlier this year on three counts of rape involving two former students.
Berkshire County District Attorney Timothy J. Shugrue previously told 5 Investigates that an investigation is ongoing.
Johnson’s arraignment date is not yet set, the district attorney’s office said.
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