Note: This story involves details of sexual abuse. If you or someone you know may be a victim of sexual abuse, confidential support, information and advice are available at the National Sexual Assault Hotline by calling 800-656-4673.
Read OPB’s full investigation.
It took a $3.5 million settlement and the arrest of three teachers in Oregon’s St. Helens School District before the issue of student sexual abuse garnered the swell of action seen today.
Since the arrests this fall, there have been student protests and comments from angry parents at school board meetings. The school board chair resigned, and the superintendent and high school principal have both been replaced. Details of the allegations are still coming to light.
The Oregon Department of Human Services is investigating multiple educators, and Gov. Tina Kotek has reprimanded the district and threatened to get involved if she doesn’t see sufficient action.
Now, it’s time to reckon with a deeply upsetting truth: St. Helens is part of a broader pattern of educator sexual misconduct plaguing schools across Oregon and the country.
The numbers
An estimated 10% of students nationally — one in 10 young people — will experience educator sexual misconduct by the time they graduate, according to a landmark analysis from the early 2000s, updated in 2022 by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. That means millions of children are affected.
Sexual misconduct against students can range from inappropriate comments and sending nude photographs to sexual assault and rape. It can be perpetrated by any school employee.
- In Oregon, that 10% average would mean roughly two students in every classroom are likely to experience some form of educator sexual misconduct during their academic career.
- A separate multi-state study in 2022 found a similar percentage — close to 12% of students — were subject to inappropriate sexual behavior, particularly inappropriate comments from teachers.
- The most common perpetrators are classroom teachers, coaches or physical education teachers. Nearly 90% are male, according to one survey, and the most frequently targeted students are high school girls.
- Most educators in public and private schools do not harm students. But those who do may be harming many children, according to a 2010 Government Accountability study.
The records
OPB analyzed records obtained by Business Insider from the 10 largest public school districts in both Oregon and Washington. The records detail allegations and disciplinary actions from educator misconduct cases between Jan. 1, 2017, and Dec. 31, 2022.
The relevant records vary based on what districts provided. But they paint a picture, showing patterns of grooming, harassment and abuse can be found across the region. The districts’ responses to these claims and their willingness to share information publicly are often inconsistent and incomplete.
Some records provide graphic details reported by students, other educators or family members.
“He’s such a perv,” one record of a text thread reads, “and he touches [sic]’s leg and says she is attractive and pretty and he called this girl’s moms phone and said ‘I know your listening cowgirl see you on Monday.’
The message continues, “he needs to understand these are little girls he is talking to.”

A text exchange between two students in Washington from 2019 shares some of their concerns regarding a middle school teacher who later had his teaching license revoked and was convicted of molesting his stepdaughter. The text message was part of the public records obtained by Business Insider and shared with OPB.
Obtained via Business Insider
The allegations and findings are far-ranging and illustrate how misconduct can escalate from creepy boundary crossing to criminal behavior: Whispering in young girls’ ears. Touching their hair. Watching porn in the classroom. Sending students photos of their penises. Grooming students over years. Convincing teen boys and girls to come to their homes and have sex with them or others.
The consequences
Consequences for accused educators vary greatly, from never being caught to facing criminal penalties.
There were cases in the Business Insider records where several, if not dozens of students reported the same educator, created social media accounts to showcase the teacher’s behavior, or protested they be removed. Sometimes, students spoke up, but the evidence was deemed insufficient, and nothing was done.
For the individual students who experience abuse, there are a lot of long-term consequences, including poorer overall psychological well-being and a higher likelihood of attempting suicide or using alcohol or drugs.
The holes and inconsistencies in systems of accountability and oversight often frustrate those trying to report abuse.
One former nonprofit worker in an Oregon middle school told OPB she reported concerns to her administrators multiple times. They had some meetings, but little came of them. She said the students who had confided in her often didn’t get any help.
“Nobody talked about it,” she said, “but everyone knew about it.”
These incidents — including the under-investigated cases in St. Helens that have caused a public uproar — show how trust is eroded across school communities.
Possible actions
Experts say seemingly grey-area comments or actions can be warning signs everyone should pay attention to.
Advocates also want to see more action at every level, such as:
- Increase the number of qualified staff in school buildings;
- Train educators, families and students on sexual violence prevention;
- Adopt zero-tolerance policies in schools for boundary violations of a sexual nature;
- Consider harsher criminalization of these abuses when committed by educators specifically;
- And ensure students who allege educator sexual misconduct are provided with support and counseling.
For more, read OPB’s full investigation here.