North Thurston spokesman resigns, citing stress from reports on lost Longview job
Aaron Wyatt, North Thurston Public Schools’ executive director of communications, resigned from his job Friday, roughly two weeks after The Olympian reported he had left his previous teaching job in Longview after “crossing a boundary” with a female student.
In a statement from the district, Wyatt said he made the decision because the current focus on that previous chapter of his life was placing “undue stress” on him and his family. He said it also distracted from positive things happening in the district.
District leaders said in the statement that they understand and respect Wyatt’s decision, and they thanked him for his work in the district.
According to previous reporting from The Olympian, Wyatt taught English at Mark Morris High School for 13 years. While there, both a police and school investigation were opened against Wyatt, questioning his relationship with an 18-year-old female student, having private conversations with her in an area of the school that was off limits to students.
No criminal charges were brought, but the school determined he had crossed a line and placed him on administrative leave. He resigned soon after.
Wyatt has cited his mental health at the time, and said that medication and therapy has helped him begin to understand and address his clinical depression and anxiety.
On Tuesday night, Dec. 6, parents addressed the North Thurston school board, questioning the hiring of Wyatt. One asked the entire school board to resign, calling them “criminally negligent.”
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