The parents of four girls allegedly molested by a now-former Peninsula School District teacher have sued the district, accusing it of failing to protect their children from harm.
Jordan Henderson, 35, was a fifth-grade teacher at Evergreen Elementary School when he was charged in April with nine counts of first-degree molestation. Three new counts were later added after a fourth student alleged that Henderson groped and threatened her several times in his class.
Henderson, who has pleaded not guilty, had been on administrative leave since the onset of an investigation into the molestation claims, but a district spokesperson said Thursday that he was no longer employed by the district.
Henderson’s criminal case is ongoing, court records show. The News Tribune previously reported that he is a deacon at a Gig Harbor church, where his father is a pastor.
In a lawsuit filed this month on behalf of the alleged victims in Pierce County Superior court, the district was accused of not controlling Henderson or protecting the students from “his sexual predatory behavior.”
The district allowed Henderson to have continuous and unfettered access to the students, even though it knew or should have known that the students were at significant risk for sexual abuse and measures were necessary to prevent it, according to the suit.
Attorney Kevin Hastings, who’s representing the plaintiffs in the civil case, said in an interview it was his understanding that one or more educators had concerns about Henderson’s interactions with young female students; it was known that a number of girls stayed in his classroom during lunch and recess; and one of his clients had reported to the school’s principal that she noticed changes in behavior among her female peers in class.
“They knew about it and didn’t take any action,” Hastings said in an interview.
Citing its policy of not publicly addressing ongoing litigation, the district declined to comment on the allegations. Attorney Brett Purtzer, who’s representing Henderson in the criminal matter, said “we stand by” the not-guilty plea but declined further comment.
Hastings wrote to district Superintendent Krestin Bahr in April, criticizing the district’s response to the sexual-abuse allegations and expressing dismay over his understanding that Henderson’s mother continued to teach third grade at the school, according to a copy of the letter provided to The News Tribune by Hastings.
The circumstance left the students, the lawsuit said, “with the untenable choice” of attending school in an environment not conducive to learning or not attending at all. Evergreen Elementary is located in the unincorporated community of Lakebay in northwest Pierce County.
A district spokesperson confirmed that Henderson’s mother was employed by the district but did not respond to a follow-up inquiry on whether she worked at Evergreen Elementary.
Hastings told The News Tribune that some students remain enrolled at the school. Other students’ parents found it necessary to relocate their children, he said.
“It’s this huge breach of trust and it’s so damaging,” he said about the alleged abuse, adding later: “This shouldn’t have ever happened.”
Henderson’s church previously expressed support for him through a Facebook post, which was signed by his father, The News Tribune reported in April. The post noted Henderson’s “highest quality and character as a man.”
“He is a great husband, a great father, a great teacher,” the post read, asking “that God reveal the full and complete truth regarding these allegations.”
The lawsuit, filed Sept. 20, accused the district of negligence and infliction of emotional distress, among other claims. It’s demanding a jury trial and seeking unspecified damages, legal fees and other relief deemed appropriate by the court.