Parents thank Dorn for suspending teacher

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn met briefly with three parents of Morton students Thursday morning, acknowledging their appreciation for his office's decision to suspend junior high history teacher Michael Moulton.

Dave Eden, Jennifer Mau and Sharon Mitchell made the 70-mile drive from Morton to the state OSPI building in Olympia, where they were met by Gargoyles motorcycle club member Tracy “Bam” Guise from Tacoma. Mau handed Dorn flowers and a handmade sign that read “Thank You Mr. Dorn.”

Dorn said he appreciated the parents’ support of their children but refused to take credit for the suspension.

“It wasn’t solely my decision to suspend Mr. Moulton,” he said. “It was a long process, and we had to go by the book to get it done.”

Dorn said his office will hand down a three-year suspension of Michael Moulton’s teaching license next week.

Moulton, a history teacher who was jailed for inappropriately touching students, was set to return to school Monday but called in sick Monday through Wednesday. His suspension was announced Wednesday.