St. Helens School Board selects interim superintendent amid teacher sexual abuse allegations

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – In the wake of sexual assault allegations against several employees in recent weeks, the St. Helens School Board selected an interim superintendent Monday evening.

Dr. Steve Webb was unanimously selected to lead the district for the next 90 days.

“The board recognized the magnitude of the current crisis and the challenges the district faces following recent allegations of employee misconduct and concerns about the lack of transparency from some district and school leaders,” the school district said in a news release.

Webb previously served as superintendent of Vancouver Public Schools from 2008 to 2021. In 2021, Webb and the Vancouver School Board mutually agreed to part ways months before he was scheduled to retire from the district.

He is also a senior consultant for the American Association of School Administrators.

“We know it will take a concerted effort and significant time to rebuild the broken trust between our community and the school district,” said Trinity Monahan, acting chair of the board. “We are pleased that Dr. Webb, an experienced superintendent and highly regarded educational leader, has joined us to help our district and our community come together, heal and move forward.”

A total of seven St. Helens School District staff members are being investigated by the Oregon Department of Human Services and the St. Helens Police Department in an ongoing sex abuse scandal involving students, as well as allegations of school administrators turning a blind eye for these crimes.

Since the first of these allegations became public in mid-Novemberthe St. Helens community – including parents, students and school staff – has come out against what they claim is the district’s failure to protect its vulnerable students.

St. Helens police first began a two-month investigation into the school’s sexual abuse allegations in September.

“Upon receiving reports of the alleged sexual abuse, St. Helens detectives immediately conducted interviews and obtained a subpoena for records related to the allegations,” police said. “Former student victims were identified, and other potential victims were also identified.”

Following the investigation, Eric Stearns was charged with seven counts of second-degree sexual abuse and one count of third-degree sexual abuse, and Mark Collins was charged with two counts of second-degree sexual abuse and one count of attempted second-degree sexual abuse. abuse.

Both men were booked into the Columbia County Jail on Tuesday, November 12.

The St. Helens School District announced in a Facebook post Friday, Nov. 15, that high school principal Katy Wagner and district Superintendent Scot Stockwell had been placed on administrative leave. The Department of State also said Chief Inspector Stockwell was under investigation for failing to report child safety concerns.

Officials also announced that school board chairman Ryan Scholl had resigned from his position.

The following Thursday, November 21, the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) announced that Wagner was under investigation for allegedly failing to report safety concerns to law enforcement.

The ODHS announced Friday morning that two more St. Helens High School employees are also under investigation for sexual abuse allegations, although they have not yet been named in a criminal investigation by St. Helens police. Officials also announced Friday that a St. Helens Middle School teacher was under investigation “offensive physical contact.”

The district says Webb “will focus on stabilizing district and school leadership, listening to stakeholders and recommending actions necessary to address the current crisis and the district’s long-term needs.”

“Our shared goal is to move St. Helens School District toward a successful future, ensuring the right policies, procedures, systems and staff are in place for a safe, respectful and professionally ethical learning environment. Every student should feel safe, secure and supported in our schools. We have significant work to do to rebuild relationships and trust in the community,” Webb said.

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