North Thurston spokesman left teaching after ‘crossing boundary’ with Longview student
North Thurston Public Schools Executive Director of Communications Aaron Wyatt lost his teaching job in Longview for “crossing the boundary” with a female student when he was a teacher, The Olympian has learned.
The Olympian researched Wyatt’s past after receiving a tip last week about his time in Longview. The tip came after The Olympian reported that a Salish Middle School teacher had been arrested in a child sex abuse sting, and Wyatt was fielding the public’s questions about it.
The Olympian discovered a series of stories produced in 2008 by The Daily News in Longview, where he taught English at Mark Morris High School for 13 years.
Wyatt confirmed last week that he was the focus of those stories and issued a statement Monday.
“In December 2007, I suffered a mental health crisis defined by clinical depression and anxiety,” he said. “Lacking sound judgment, I began to share my depression with a student, relying on those school-day conversations as a coping mechanism for my illness. The administration rightfully put me on administrative leave in March 2008,” he wrote.
“Through medication and therapy, I began to understand and address my illness. The subsequent 15-year investment in my mental health is a source of pride for me … .”
Longview police investigated the case and brought no charges. Longview Public Schools also conducted their own investigation.
A Longview police report revealed the following:
“Another teacher overheard Wyatt, 36, and a young woman, whom she assumed was a teacher, talking in low tones and giggling on March 7, 2008, in the book room where only faculty members are allowed,” the newspaper reported in June of that year.
The teacher confronted Wyatt and learned he had been alone with a female student, 18. The student told the school principal that she and Wyatt had become friends and that he used her as a “shoulder” when he was depressed, according to the newspaper.
Police determined that “while it may be inappropriate as to a student-teacher relationship, it did not amount to a criminal act.”
The school district investigation found that Wyatt had “crossed the boundary in a relationship with a student.” He resigned instead of being fired, the Daily News reported.
Wyatt later entered the communications field, including working as director of communications for the Washington Student Achievement Council, The Olympian previously reported. He has been with North Thurston Public Schools since March.
The Olympian asked North Thurston Public Schools Superintendent Debra Clemens whether the district was aware of his background and whether it affected their decision to hire him.
The district responded with a statement of its own, which was sent to The Olympian late Monday, as well as to every district employee, spokeswoman Amy Blondin said.
“As we do for all employees, we conducted a thorough background check on Aaron,” district officials wrote. “The finding from the previous district was that he shared excessive personal information with a student. This culminated in Aaron’s departure from the district.
“Aaron has provided strong leadership for district communications since joining NTPS in March 2022, building a strategic and cohesive communications team. We are fortunate to have him.
“We appreciate Aaron being forthright about his mental health journey. The fact that Aaron’s mental health history is now public is very difficult for him and his family. Please know that we support Aaron, as we will support all NTPS staff in their mental health work. Aaron’s longstanding commitment to mental health and to his profession are testaments to his character and capacity.”
This story was originally published November 23, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
