Predators and principals, adjust to the law

The Northshore School District is one of the state's top systems, but more than a decade ago it failed miserably to protect students from a teacher who preyed on children.

Carl Leede taught in Northshore schools for more than 20 years before he pleaded guilty in 2000 to seven misdemeanors, including six counts of assault, then was sentenced to eight months in jail. This shouldn't have surprised anyone. The teacher's propensity for fondling female students and obsessing about sex in the classroom was subject of numerous complaints by teachers, staff members and parents. In a recent Seattle Times piece, investigative reporters Ken Armstrong and Justin Mayo laid out a jaw-dropping picture of a teacher whose inappropriate behavior went unchecked by four principals.

Leede used profanity and made sexual remarks in front of kids. He commented on girls' developing bodies and predicted who'd get pregnant first. Another time, Leede made students spell words such as "ejaculation," "pubic" and "tampon," put them in an essay, and read the essay aloud to the class, using a microphone.

One principal retired to Hawaii, presumably still believing what she told The Times: that Leede's behavior appeared stupid but not predatory. One of the other principals is Ed Young, now the principal at Skyline High School in the Issaquah School District.

Young was the principal at Kokanee Elementary near Woodinville when a student complained of inappropriate touching by Leede. Young called the student to his office, where she was confronted by the principal and Leede. Neither a parent nor a counselor was called in. No surprise that Leede's "misplaced hug" excuse passed muster.

Issaquah has launched an investigation of Young to determine if he was derelict in his duties. The Times story, citing school and law-enforcement records, said the principal received nine warnings about Leede's improper behavior. Washington law requires educators to report suspicions of physical or sexual abuse by other employees or face gross-misdemeanor charges.

Teachers reported their suspicions. But Young didn't report the matter to police or Child Protective Services, nor did he place a record of it in Leede's files.

The state Legislature has changed the law to protect districts from lawsuits if they provide less than glowing references. Schools can warn each other about the Leedes of the world. Principals, such as Young, who fail to adequately supervise their employees, could not escape to another district.

Stronger state laws have armed districts with tools to protect children from predators. In the end, districts have one job: to use them.