Latin isn’t the first NAIS school to face antisemitism scandals while maintaining sprawling DEI bureaucracies. The Shipley School (another NAIS member) previously relieved its headmaster and DEI director following antisemitic controversies, according to published reports. Both schools share a common thread: Carney Sandoe & Associates, the executive search firm that’s become prominent in DEI recruiting for elite independent schools.
At Latin, the crisis has reached critical mass.
Nazi music, take two
In early January 2026, a teacher overheard two Latin middle school students discussing their practice of “Erika” — a 1938 German marching song that was the Wehrmacht’s most popular tune during World War II, according to historian Major General Michael Tillotson. The lyrics describe a soldier missing his sweetheart (innocuous enough), but the song’s inextricable association with Nazi Germany is hardly subtle.
This marked the second time in fourteen months that “Erika” appeared at Latin, according to school communications and media reports. A New York Post article reported that some middle school band members allegedly played the anthem in November 2024. Parents and documents reviewed by the New York Post claim that the school disregarded the incident.
Dr. Thomas Hagerman announced his resignation on Wednesday, January 14, less than two weeks after the second “Erika” incident surfaced. His departure letter cited “health concerns” and the need to “attend more intentionally to my health and overall sustainability.” Translation: He makes for a convenient scapegoat, though the school remains under severe pressure.