WRSD elementary teacher on leave after allegations of inappropriate conduct with minor

Published 8:45 am Saturday, May 30, 2026

A White River School District teacher has been put on leave after allegations of inappropriate behaviors with a kindergartener, but a criminal referral was not filed.

According to a Buckley Police Department report dated April 22, a mother accused teacher of a series of inappropriate contact with her six-year-old daughter in April and other inappropriate behavior last year, including hanging her upside down and ticking her.

BPD Chief Kurt Alfano confirmed that there was an investigation and it is “active pending new leads… meaning if more information came to light, we would open the case to investigate.”

However, “[t]he initial report written did not meet the criteria of any criminal statue,” he added.

The report was labeled as “indecent liberties,” a felony, but Alfano said the investigation should have been relabeled.

“…[W]ith nothing criminal occurring we usually title these types of reports as information,” he said, adding that the BPD’s system “doesn’t allow us to change it.”

According to the report, the school district called the mother on April 28 to inform the the mother that her daughter kissed the teacher on the cheek the previous week, which he reportedly told the daughter was inappropriate.

The mother alleged the district said the report was delayed due to the teacher having concerns about his employment after the incident and felt uncomfortable making a report.

However, the mother said her child told her that the teacher kissed her, although he asked permission before doing so and asked her not to tell anyone about it.

The mother made a previous complaint last November about the teacher braiding her daughter’s hair,

The mother also said her daughter said the teacher hung the six-year-old upside down and ticked her bare skin, and said she looked beautiful when she wore her hair and dressed in a specific way.

All this information was disclosed by her daughter after the kissing incident.

The mother also relayed that she was told by a third party that the teacher engaged in other inappropriate behavior with female students, like hugging, kissing, and and hanging them upside down and ticking them.

This information was not independently verified.

The BPD did not interview the daughter, the teacher, or the school district.

According to The Center Square, which broke the story, the teacher was put on administrative leave earlier this month, citing an interview with the BPD detective who investigated the case.

WRSD did not confirm or comment on the teacher’s administrative leave status.

“Because this is an ongoing personnel matter, I am limited in the information I can provide and am unable to comment on specific details related to the investigation or personnel actions,” Assistant Superintendent Dr. Heather McMullen said.

“We are committed to cooperating fully with the appropriate processes and to handling the matter with care, professionalism, and respect for all involved,” she said. “The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priority. Should additional information become appropriate for release following the conclusion of the investigation, we will communicate accordingly.”

The Courier-Herald was unable to contact mother, as names and contact information were redacted from the report.

The Courier-Herald does into typically name suspects suspected of crimes until they are officially charged.