‘Failed to protect’: Former student sues Blue Valley School District, alleges ex-teacher sexually assaulted her
By Chloe Godding
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Missouri (KMBC) — A former high school student in the Blue Valley School District has filed suit against the school district for its role in her alleged sexual assault by a former teacher.
In the lawsuit, the student, referred to as Jane Doe, alleges that the school’s former theater teacher sexually assaulted her in 2018 while she was a student at the school and a minor.
The former teacher allegedly got the student alone while at the school late at night and assaulted her. She then reported it to the administration.
The lawsuit alleges that the district learned this was not an isolated incident, and that the teacher had been sending inappropriate communications to other students.
“The District stands in place of a student’s parents and has a duty to take reasonable steps to protect those individuals when the custodial circumstances limit an individual’s ability to do so,” the lawsuit says.
However, the district reportedly knew or had reason to know of “red flags that (teacher) was unfit or posed a risk of undue harm to the young women at the school.”
The lawsuit says the teacher was criminally charged with sexual battery in 2019 but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.
His teaching license was revoked in August 2021 as a result of the assault of Jane Doe.
She is now seeking $750,000 in damages as a result of the district’s “negligence,” and demands a jury trial for applicable issues.
“Defendant put (teacher) in a position of trust and authority over Plaintiff when she was in a vulnerable state as a minor child/student at Defendant’s school,” the lawsuit says.
It also says the district failed to supervise the teacher and “failed to protect” Jane Doe.
The Blue Valley School District shared a statement with KMBC 9, denying allegations of negligence.
“Blue Valley Schools takes all reports involving student safety seriously and acts accordingly. The district denies the allegations that it was negligent in how it dealt with its former employee (who didn’t even work at the school identified in the lawsuit). The district stands ready to defend itself through the appropriate legal channels.”
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