Prestigious Spence School Shaken by Affair Between Married Chef and Manager

The bright red door to Spence School, one of Manhattan's most prestigious private institutions, creaked open each morning to release a stream of young women clad in navy tartan dresses, their chatter echoing across the Upper East Side. This was no ordinary day, however. Last week, the usual buzz among students and parents took on a sinister edge as whispers of an alleged affair within the school's walls spread like wildfire. At the center of the controversy was Adam Gonzaga, 35, a married chef at the school, and Jenna Davis, 41, the school's special events and parent relations manager. According to reports, the two were allegedly involved in a romantic relationship, despite both being married. Gonzaga's wife, who discovered a selfie of her husband with Davis on his phone, reportedly confronted him, leading to a public fallout. Gonzaga's father-in-law, enraged by the allegations, took matters into his own hands, plastering the neighborhood with flyers that named both individuals, accusing Davis of betraying her marriage and her position of trust. The flyer, bold and unapologetic, read: "ATTN SPENCE FAMILIES: Jenna Davis is having an affair with her subordinate, Adam Gonzaga, who is MARRIED (with a 3-year-old son)."

The fallout was immediate. Staff members described the situation as both chaotic and deeply unsettling, while parents and students alike found themselves caught in the crosshairs of a scandal that seemed to expose the school's inner workings to the public. Spence, which charges $68,480 annually for enrollment, has long prided itself on its exclusivity and academic rigor. Yet the affair, if true, has forced the institution to confront a growing perception that even its most elite schools are not immune to the same human frailties that plague the rest of society. The school declined to comment on the allegations, but the incident has reignited a broader conversation about the culture and ethics of New York City's most revered private institutions. For years, these schools have been both celebrated and scrutinized, their reputations built on a foundation of academic excellence but also marred by scandals ranging from allegations of pedophilia among staff to accusations of racial bias and sexual misconduct.

Emily Glickman, president of Abacus Guide, a consultancy that has helped families navigate the labyrinthine admissions processes of New York's elite schools for 27 years, offered a measured perspective. "Two consenting adults had an affair," she told the Daily Mail. "That's not a school crisis. That's New York." Glickman's point was clear: the city itself is a place where secrets are hard to keep, and the social circles that orbit elite institutions are no different. Yet for others, the scandal was a symptom of a deeper rot. Andrew Gutmann, an investment banker and software entrepreneur whose daughter attended Brearley School, a $66,800-a-year institution, argued that the problem ran far deeper. "Parents have their heads in the sand," he said. "But they don't care. It's not about the education. It's about the prestige of the brand of these schools that are so hard to get into. Parents are not willing to give that up."

Gutmann's frustration is not unfounded. His own experience with Brearley led him to pull his daughter from the school in 2021, sending her instead to a British institution where, he claimed, she received a better education. His decision underscores a growing disillusionment among some parents who feel that the exorbitant costs of elite private schools—often exceeding $60,000 per year—are not matched by the quality of instruction or the ethical standards of the institutions themselves. Spence's scandal is just one of many that have come to light in recent years, further fueling skepticism about whether these schools are truly worth the investment.

The issue of accountability is particularly thorny. Private schools in New York City are not subject to the same regulatory oversight as public institutions, which means they often operate with a degree of autonomy that can lead to ethical lapses going unchecked. This lack of transparency has allowed scandals to fester, sometimes for years, before coming to light. In January 2024, for example, two teenage girls sued Saint Ann's School in Brooklyn Heights, a $61,400-a-year institution with a storied alumni list that includes actors like Lena Dunham and Jennifer Connelly, as well as fashion designer Zac Posen and artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. The lawsuit alleged that the school failed to address bullying and harassment, raising questions about its commitment to student welfare.

The Spence affair, while perhaps more salacious than others, is emblematic of a pattern. It highlights the tension between the schools' aspirational goals—providing education to the city's elite—and the human imperfections that inevitably accompany such institutions. For some, the scandal is a cautionary tale about the dangers of placing too much faith in a system that prioritizes exclusivity over accountability. For others, it is a reminder that even the most prestigious schools are not immune to the same moral and ethical challenges that affect the rest of the world. As the flyers remain on lamp posts and the whispers continue, one thing is clear: the spotlight on New York's elite schools is far from dimming.

The recent allegations against Saint Ann's School in Brooklyn have reignited scrutiny over the institution's hiring practices and its handling of past misconduct. At the center of the controversy is Winston Nguyen, a former math teacher who was sentenced to seven years in prison in March 2025 for soliciting explicit images from students he taught. Nguyen, a convicted felon who had previously served time for embezzling $300,000 from an elderly couple, was employed at Saint Ann's despite his criminal history. According to the girls who accused him, Nguyen created a fake online persona as a teenage boy to lure them into sharing explicit photos, which he then distributed to his students. The case, which came to light in January 2025, is the latest chapter in a two-year saga involving Nguyen and the school.

Saint Ann's, a prestigious institution charging $60,000 annually in tuition, has faced mounting pressure to explain its role in the incident. In response to the allegations, the school's leadership issued a statement obtained by The New York Times, denying several claims in the complaint and vowing to address the matter through legal channels. Kenyatte Reid, the head of school, and Mary Watson, the board president, expressed concern for the victims of Nguyen's actions but stopped short of admitting fault. "The complaint includes several misrepresentations of Saint Ann's role," they wrote, emphasizing the school's commitment to resolving the issue. However, the lack of a direct response to The Daily Mail's inquiries has fueled further questions about the institution's transparency.

The scandal at Saint Ann's is not an isolated incident. Similar controversies have plagued other elite private schools in New York, raising broader concerns about accountability and oversight. In 2024, Dalton School, a $67,480-a-year institution, faced its own crisis when a 50-year-old English teacher resigned after a student accused her of sexual abuse spanning two years. The school informed parents of the "serious matter" and emphasized its focus on verifying the claims while addressing potential broader issues within the community. Dalton's response, while cautious, highlighted the delicate balance schools must strike between protecting students and maintaining institutional reputation.

Even more troubling is the school's historical ties to Jeffrey Epstein. In 1974, Epstein was hired to teach math at Dalton, where he remained for two years before leaving under mysterious circumstances. The revelation of Epstein's involvement has cast a long shadow over the school, though Dalton has not publicly addressed the matter in recent years. These incidents underscore a pattern of missteps by institutions that have long prided themselves on academic excellence and exclusivity.

The challenges faced by private schools extend beyond allegations of misconduct. In 2022, Trinity School, a $69,000-a-year institution on the Upper West Side, found itself embroiled in a controversy after an administrator was caught on camera by Project Veritas admitting that the school was "definitely a place where conservatives would not feel comfortable." The administrator, Jennifer Norris, resigned shortly after the video was released, and the school's principal, John Allman, reiterated the institution's commitment to inclusivity. "Bias of any kind or the threat of violence toward any person or group has no place at Trinity School," he stated. Despite these assurances, the incident left lingering questions about the school's culture and its ability to address internal biases.

The upheaval following the murder of George Floyd in 2020 also rippled through New York's private school community. Graduates of Chapin, Brearley, and Spence schools came forward with accounts of racial discrimination and prejudice, prompting school leaders to issue public apologies. However, not all parents were satisfied with the response. One parent, Gutmann, withdrew his daughter from Brearley in 2021 and published an open letter criticizing the school for fostering guilt among white students. "I object to the view that I should be judged by the color of my skin," he wrote, arguing that the school's focus on race was undermining the legacy of civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. His letter, which sparked national debate, highlighted the tension between addressing systemic racism and ensuring equitable treatment for all students.

Despite these controversies, New York's private schools continue to attract significant interest. Education experts report a surge in applications, with some estimates suggesting a 25% increase in enrollment this year. The demand for elite institutions remains robust, even as tuition costs rise and media scrutiny intensifies. Julie Rosenberg, co-founder of The Admissions Plan, noted that families are willing to invest heavily in securing spots at top-tier schools. "Demand for these top-tier schools remains strong, even with rising tuition or media attention," she said. "In any school community, there will always be moments that draw attention, but that doesn't seem to deter families."

The role of private school consultants has also expanded, with services such as navigating admissions processes and preparing children for interviews now costing up to $15,000 per child. These consultants cater to a market where parents are increasingly willing to pay for any advantage, even as schools grapple with their own controversies. The persistence of these institutions—despite scandals, high-profile resignations, and shifting cultural expectations—raises complex questions about the balance between accountability, tradition, and the relentless pursuit of prestige. For now, the schools continue to operate, their reputations marred by past missteps but their doors still open to those seeking the promise of an elite education.

Parents evaluating private schools often emphasize long-term consistency over isolated incidents, according to education consultants. 'They're looking for stability in leadership, academic rigor, and a supportive environment,' said one expert. 'A single headline shouldn't overshadow the broader picture.' This perspective comes as scrutiny over elite institutions intensifies, particularly after revelations about Jeffrey Epstein's tenure at The Dalton School in New York. Epstein, who taught math and science at the prestigious institution without a college degree, faced allegations of inappropriate behavior toward female students, though the school has not publicly addressed these claims.

The controversy has reignited debates about school accountability, with parents urged to look beyond gossip. 'Focus on culture, not scandal,' advised Glickman, a school selection consultant. 'Talk to families who stayed and those who left. Scrutiny is healthy, but it should center on academics and student safety.' This advice comes as demand for school evaluation services surges, driven by factors like Governor Kathy Hochul's class-size limits and Mayor Zohran Mamdani's ambiguous education policies.

Alina Adams, founder of NYC School Secrets, noted that while scandals dominate headlines, they rarely deter families. 'Teachers are human, and workplaces have flaws,' she said. 'If you think inappropriate relationships don't happen at every school, you're not paying attention.' Adams emphasized visiting campuses and conducting 'gut checks' to assess fit. 'No one says, 'Because of Spence's scandal, I won't apply.' Schools may coast on reputation, but parents must dig deeper.'

The pandemic's baby boom, combined with legal and political shifts, has created a hyper-competitive landscape for enrollment. Parents now navigate a maze of conflicting priorities: academic excellence, cultural alignment, and unspoken risks. 'A flyer on social media won't change minds,' Adams added. 'But a single incident can haunt a school's legacy for years.' As families weigh their choices, the pressure on institutions to prove their values—both in classrooms and behind closed doors—has never been higher.

Experts warn that while scandals are unavoidable, their impact depends on how schools respond. 'Transparency is non-negotiable,' said one consultant. 'Parents deserve to know the full story, not just the headlines.' With the stakes rising, the next chapter in school selection may hinge on whether institutions can balance prestige with accountability—or risk being left behind.