A recent investigative report by InvestigateWest reveals that Washington state’s K‑12 educator misconduct system has disciplined—via revocation, suspension, or voluntary surrender—349 teachers since 2015. Of these, 160 cases, or roughly 46%, involved sexual misconduct. Yet, public access to these cases is severely limited when individuals voluntarily surrender their licenses, effectively shielding the case files from scrutiny. InvestigateWest obtained these findings through an in‑depth review of state data and case files.

One high‑profile instance occurred in November 2024, when a woman in her early 30s reported to her former high school in Vancouver that a longtime English teacher, Shadbreon Gatson, had groomed her during her sophomore year. A janitor had discovered her and Gatson partially undressed in the band room, yet administrators failed to appropriately investigate. Gatson resigned and voluntarily surrendered his teaching license, meaning the public cannot directly review the case details in the state’s educator misconduct database. InvestigateWest reports that, because he surrendered his license, the case files are only accessible through time‑consuming public records requests.

According to Terri Miller, who leads the National Center to Stop Educator Sexual Abuse, “this is how they are being hidden in plain sight without anyone’s knowledge of their wrongdoing,” calling it “deliberate enabling of child predation.” InvestigateWest also notes that in some districts—Seattle Public Schools, for example—most educators in the database surrendered their licenses: 11 out of 15.

Katy Payne, spokesperson for the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), explained that educators can legally surrender their licenses voluntarily provided they haven’t been formally revoked or convicted of a felony. In such cases, the state is not required to initiate an investigation unless a formal complaint is lodged by a superintendent. Payne also cited technical limitations—such as those related to web accessibility—as a reason why voluntary‑surrender cases are not included in the public database. Nevertheless, these case files can be requested via public records. InvestigateWest

Public transparency advocates and legal experts argue that the current system fails to adequately protect students and parents. Ashton Dennis, an attorney at the Washington Law Center, told InvestigateWest that classifying misconduct under the vague category of “character/fitness” rather than “sexual misconduct” dilutes accountability—for instance, in the case of Nathan White, who was arrested for attempting to meet a 13-year-old for sex.

More troubling gaps emerge across roles and state lines. The database excludes non‑certified school staff such as coaches or bus drivers. For example, a wrestling coach in University Place who allegedly abused students isn’t listed because he lacked certification, and the district has paid nearly $14 million in settlement agreements. Additionally, delays or omissions in reporting between states can allow educators disciplined elsewhere to slip through background checks within Washington. One psychologist disciplined for grooming a student in California faced only a three‑month suspension in Washington, after misleading application answers. InvestigateWest

Why this matters locally
Although Columbia County lies in southwest Washington, these shortcomings in educator discipline systems carry immediate local implications. Administrators in Cowlitz County may face similar incentives to avoid costly or labor‑intensive investigations—especially when voluntary resignation sidesteps formal processes. Parents, students, and neighboring districts deserve transparency, not only to safeguard current students, but also to prevent the transfer of risk across communities.

Washington’s Revised Code (RCW 28A.320.160) requires school districts to notify parents within 48 hours of receiving a report of alleged sexual misconduct and to inform them of their rights under the Public Records Act. However, in practice, this notification obligation often stops short of proactive public disclosure—particularly when cases stay internal or are closed via voluntary surrender. RCW 28A.320.160

What comes next
Columbia Countercurrent plans to reach out to OSPI and Cowlitz County school districts to assess local practices related to educator misconduct. We intend to compare policy implementation across jurisdictions and gauge whether voluntary surrenders result in similar opacity here.

Sources
InvestigateWest: “WA agency disciplined 160 teachers for sexual misconduct since 2015. Many cases are shielded from the public.”
Revised Code of Washington: RCW 28A.320.160, notification and public records rights.