Parents protest return of teacher convicted of touching girls

SEATTLE – Parents pulled their children out of class and protested outside a southwest Washington school Monday, the day a teacher convicted of inappropriately touching female students was scheduled to return to work.

Teacher Michael Moulton called in sick Monday, the first day of school, after parents in his tiny school district transferred most of their children out of his five classes.

Moulton served 16 days in the Lewis County Jail after pleading guilty through an Alford plea on charges of inappropriately touching four girls in 2008.

The school district had previously suspended Moulton without pay for 12 days for the 2008 incidents.

When the district tried to fire him for the same offenses, Moulton appealed that decision and the hearing officer who heard his appeal ruled the school district had already punished him.

Now that the district and the courts are done with their investigation, the state review of his teaching certificate has begun, but he’s legally allowed to teach until that has finished.