Skykomish parents demand superintendent's resignation following arrest of gym teacher for alleged campus sexual assaults

Parents in Skykomish, WA are demanding the superintendent's resignation after a gym teacher was arrested for the alleged two-year rape of a student on campus.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 10, 2026, 7:42 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from FOX 13 Seattle

Community Outrage Boils Over at School Meeting

Tensions reached a breaking point Monday morning as parents packed a meeting at the Skykomish School District building to demand accountability from administrators. The assembly followed the Friday arrest of a long-term male staff member who had served as a gym teacher, coach, and athletics director. Parents, described as "boisterous" and shouting, expressed deep betrayal that such crimes could occur in a K-12 district with an enrollment of only 50 to 60 students. Many attendees explicitly called for the resignation of Superintendent and Principal Destry Jones, questioning how the alleged abuse remained undetected for two years.

Details of Alleged Abuse and Campus Locations

According to King County court documents, the suspect allegedly began an inappropriate relationship with the victim when she was in the seventh grade. The abuse reportedly escalated to sexual assault by the eighth grade. Investigators stated that the teacher utilized various locations within the school including the gymnasium, storage closets, and his private office to commit the crimes during school hours. Perhaps most disturbing were reports from other students who witnessed the teacher exiting the gym with blankets and teddy bears, items that investigators later found sprayed with the suspect's deodorant to "smell like him."

Grooming Tactics and Systemic Failures

The investigation revealed an extensive pattern of grooming, with the suspect reportedly providing the victim with gifts such as clothing, soccer scarves, and suggestive items. Furthermore, detectives allege the suspect gave the victim alcohol, specifically Mike’s Hard Lemonade and Fireball, three to four times a week. While Superintendent Jones maintained the district had no advance notice of the investigation until the day of the arrest, court documents suggest that staff had previously expressed concerns about the "relationship." In response to these concerns, the school had reportedly ordered that the teacher not be alone with the student—a rule that was allegedly bypassed by having an autistic student in the room who was distracted by headphones and a tablet.