An Edmonds School District elementary school teacher has lost his job as a result of complaints this spring that he made unwanted sexual advances to a male 18-year-old student of Edmonds-Woodway High School.
In April, the student filed in South Snohomish County District Court for a protection order against the teacher. At a May 7 hearing, Judge Timothy Ryan declined to issue an anti-harassment order because the student never told the teacher not to contact him.
The teacher did not teach in the same building as the student, and the student is not a minor.
The district investigated the charges and notified the teacher last month that his contract wouldn’t be renewed.
“That’s the best information I’m able to provide regarding that issue,” said Debbie Jakala, community relations manager for the district.
She couldn’t offer further information because it’s a personnel issue, she said.
In April, in court papers, the student accused the teacher of sending him “incessant” e-mails for months and coming often to the store where he worked to talk with him.
In his defense, the teacher said he was only interested in helping the boy with his career goals and that his actions were misunderstood.
The state Code of Professional Conduct for teachers prohibits sexual advances, whether verbal or physical.
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