Another complaint filed against Josh Rist, Salem-Keizer music teacher accused of abuse – Statesman Journal
Another McNary High School student has filed an abuse complaint against Joshua Rist, a former McNary choir teacher who was moved to Kalapuya Elementary School following similar allegations in 2021.
Salem-Keizer Public Schools superintendent Andrea Castañeda said the district received the additional complaint Sept. 29, two days after two former female McNary students filed a $10 million lawsuit alleging Rist, 35, groomed and sexually abused them while they were students.
Castañeda put Rist on administrative leave Oct. 2, the following work day.
“Upon receipt, we immediately began investigations along with our partner agencies,” Castañeda said. “If this new complaint proves credible, includes evidence of blurred or crossed boundaries, and has the same characteristics as past complaints, we will take more bold action.”
Superintendent says she didn’t know full extent of allegations
On Tuesday, Castañeda said she was not fully aware of the complaints about Rist before the lawsuit was filed.
“When I first joined the Salem-Keizer Public Schools team, on July 1, I received a briefing on Mr. Rist but I did not learn about the detailed allegations until Sept. 27, when the lawsuit landed and we all saw it together as a community,” she said.
The district had placed Rist on paid administrative leave more than two years ago, on May 28, 2021.
In June 2021, district officials sent a formal misconduct report to the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission. TSPC also received an Oregon Department of Human Services report alleging the same misconduct. The Keizer Police Department also investigated.
Rist returned from leave on Aug. 18, 2022, and was moved from McNary to Kalapuya. He was again placed on paid administrative leave Feb. 9.
On June 8, Rist and TSPC stipulated to certain facts, meaning Rist agreed that evidence would support the commission’s findings that Rist established inappropriate personal relationships with the two women while they were students at McNary.
TSPC concluded Rist had engaged in gross neglect of duty.
He returned to Kalapuya at the beginning of this school year.
“Based on what I know today I do not believe Mr. Rist should be allowed to serve students in the Salem-Keizer School District or anywhere else,” Castañeda said.
Principal didn’t choose to employ Rist
Castañeda also defended Kalapuya principal Jennifer Neitzel.
Following the lawsuit filing, hundreds of West Salem parents organized to try to get Rist removed from the classroom. More than a dozen Kalapuya parents told the Statesman Journal that Neitzel originally defended Rist to them, saying he was a good teacher.
Castañeda said Neitzel had no role in placing Rist at Kalapuya.
“He was placed there by the district,” she said. “Ms. Neitzel is a well-known, trusted and widely respected leader in the West Salem community and she has my full confidence.”
A Keizer resident has filed a formal complaint against Neitzel.
In his complaint to the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission, Butch Dunn alleges Neitzel and her husband came to his home to confront him about a comment he made on a Statesman Journal story about the lawsuit. The comment criticized Neitzel’s response to parents.
The complaint alleges Neitzel’s husband began yelling “in a very angry, menacing and intimidating manner.”
Dunn provided the Statesman Journal with security camera footage showing the incident.
“Our employees are representatives of Salem-Keizer Public Schools and we take reports of employee conduct seriously, whether they happen on campus or out in the community,” district spokesman Aaron Harada said in response to Dunn’s complaint.
Law allows relationships after 90 days
In a video message released Tuesday, Castañeda urged TSPC and elected officials to change a state law that prohibits teacher-student relationships only until 90 days after a student graduates.
“Mr. Rist attempted to advance a deep relationship with students that was more clearly romantic and sexual only after they were technically no longer considered students in the eyes of the law,” Castañeda said.
“Ninety days is not enough to separate students and teachers,” she said. “And it is insufficient for the protection of our young people. Our laws do not match our community values or ethical standards.”
The lawsuit alleges that while at McNary, Rist groomed and abused the women between 2015 and 2020, and alleges the district failed to protect them from the teacher.
As part of the TSPC stipulation, Rist received a 60-day license suspension and three years’ probation. He served his suspension during the summer break when he would not have been working.
Rist was not charged with any crime.
Tracy Loew covers education at the Statesman Journal. Send comments, questions and tips:tloew@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6779. Follow her on Twitter at@Tracy_Loew
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