Ex-Salem-Keizer music teacher Josh Rist paid $30K to resign
Salem-Keizer Public Schools: Take a look inside the district
Here are some key facts to know about Salem-Keizer Public Schools.
Salem-Keizer Public Schools has paid Joshua Rist, the music teacher accused of grooming and abusing two students, $30,000 to resign.
Area Also agreed To remove from its website and social media a video message from Superintendent Andrea Castañeda to the community saying: “I do not believe Mr. Rist should be allowed to serve students in the Salem-Keizer School District or anywhere else.”
Its investigation, which began in October 2023, concluded with an additional student complaint of mistreatment.
Rist did not respond to the Statesman Journal’s interview request.
His Oregon teaching license is still valid.
Salem Keizer Supervisor abuse allegations against teacher
Salem-Keizer Public Schools Superintendent Andrea Castaneda discusses the district’s response to sexual assault allegations against a teacher.
Provided by Salem Keizer Public Schools
Rist’s lawsuit was settled out of court
In November, the school district paid $400,000 Settle a lawsuit Rist, a former choir teacher at McNary High School, allegedly groomed and sexually assaulted two students between 2015 and 2020.
The $10 million lawsuitfiled by two of McNary’s former students in September 2023, also named the school district, alleging it failed to protect them from the teacher.
Rist allegedly gave the two women extra attention in an attempt to befriend them and gain their trust and the trust of their families.
He sent “inappropriate and unwanted” communications on the school’s messaging platform and via text messages, and met with them outside and outside of school, according to the lawsuit.
According to the lawsuit, “Both Plaintiffs confided in Defendant Rist about the difficulties, traumas, and difficult situations they were dealing with. At no time did Defendant Rest direct Plaintiffs to school counselors, one of whom was Defendant Rist’s wife. Instead, he chose to use those Information to further manipulate and co-opt plaintiffs.
The lawsuit states that the two women worked at separate times as Rist’s teaching assistant during prep when no one else was present. He discussed topics with them that included sexual experimentation, adultery, polygamy and pornography, according to the lawsuit.
Each of the plaintiffs, whose names were not mentioned in the lawsuit, received $200,000, according to the settlement agreements.
The feathers have been removed from the classroom
Rist has spent most of the past three-and-a-half years on paid administrative leave.
He was first placed on leave for 15 months, between May 28, 2021, and August 18, 2022, while the district investigates similar complaints.
On February 9, 2023, Rist was placed on leave again.
On June 8, 2023 Rest Set forth in some facts After an Oregon Educator Standards and Practices investigation, meaning he agreed that the evidence would support the commission’s findings that Rist had inappropriate personal relationships with the two women while they were students at McNary.
The TSPC concluded that Rest had engaged in gross neglect of duty.
The district transferred Rist to Calapuya Elementary School when he returned to work at the beginning of the 2023-24 school year.
Rist was teaching music at Calapooya when the lawsuit was filed on September 27, 2023. He was placed on leave again on October 2, 2023, after the district received notice Additional complaint About him from another McNary student.
District spokesman Aaron Harada said the district’s investigation into that complaint “is no longer active.” Harada said the district could not share any information about the investigation, but it was not dropped as part of the resignation agreement.
Rist remained on leave until his resignation.
Rist has been banned from working at SKPS
Rist’s resignation took effect Dec. 31, permanently barring him from working in Salem-Keizer Public Schools.
As part of the agreement, the district agreed not to contest any claim by Rist for unemployment benefits.
The District also agreed that, in response to employment inquiries from non-K-12 educational employers, or employers that do not primarily serve children or vulnerable populations, the District will only release Rist’s employment dates, positions held, and resignation as of December 31.
Rist’s case prompted a new law
In March 2024, in response to the lawsuit, the Oregon Legislature passed a bill aimed at better protecting students from sexual grooming in schools.
HP 4160 Increases the time an individual is considered a “student,” from 90 days to one year after graduating or leaving high school, for laws requiring reporting, investigation, and disclosure of a school employee, contractor, agent, or volunteer who has sexual contact with a student.
Tracy Love covers education for the Statesman. Send comments, questions and tips: [email protected] Or 503-399-6779. Follow her on Twitter at @Tracy_Loew
