Steve Webb, a former leader of Vancouver Public Schools, was named as the district’s temporary superintendent by the St. Helens school board on Monday night in light of an expanding investigation into sexual misconduct by school employees.
The board’s vice chair, Trinity Monahan, expressed her satisfaction at having Dr. Webb, a seasoned superintendent and well-known educational leader, join us in fostering peace, healing, and progress within our district and community.
Ten days after putting Superintendent Scot Stockwell on paid leave in a hurried emergency meeting, the board chose Webb to be the district’s acting superintendent.
Webb was given a 90-day contract that went into effect right away. His pay did not come in right away.
Two high school employees—one a present instructor and the other a retired educator—have been arrested and charged with sexually abusing kids.
Additionally, according to a statement released by St. Helens police last week with no other information, a teacher at St. Helens Middle School is being investigated criminally for actions involving students.
Both Stockwell and Katy Wagner, the principal of St. Helens High School, are under investigation by the Oregon Department of Human Services for allegedly failing to report child abuse as required. Every employee at the institution is required to report. Both Wagner and Stockwell are on paid administrative leave.
After being put on paid leave, Webb retired midway through the school year in February 2021, having been the superintendent of Vancouver Public Schools since July 2008. According to The Columbian at the time, he received $455,000 from Vancouver Public Schools as part of a retirement deal. Webb and the district agreed to refrain from disparaging one another on a personal and professional level as part of that agreement.
He received the title of Washington State Superintendent of the Year in 2016. He most recently supported over 125 districts nationwide as a national consultant for the American Association of School Administrators. He was previously a middle school principal who became deputy superintendent of the Lake Stevens, Washington, school district, and a one-year superintendent of Apple Valley, California.
According to his LinkedIn profile, he received a doctorate in education from Seattle University, a master’s degree in teaching from Lewis & Clark College, and a degree in education from the University of Puget Sound.
Webb thanked the board for believing in him when he appeared on video for Monday night’s special board meeting.
The chance to provide the St. Helens community with the answers they want and a revitalized feeling of confidence and faith in their local schools humbles me, he added.
He stated that he will endeavor to guarantee that the district has the proper policies, processes, systems, and staff in place for a secure learning environment and that he will give a detailed plan of action to the community in the coming days.
According to him, every student in our schools need to feel supported, safe, and secure. To start restoring trust and connections in the community, we need to put in a lot of effort.
The district’s most recent action comes after the school board paid out $3.5 million to a former student who had been molested by another teacher earlier this year. Stockwell had promised the former kid almost a year prior that no other students would suffer any damage.
Four days after Gov. Tina Kotek promised to step in if the district did not act swiftly to appoint new leadership, the new interim superintendent was announced.
With over 300 employees spread over seven campuses, the St. Helens school system provides education to about 2,800 pupils.
— Maxine Bernstein writes about criminal justice and federal courts. You may contact her at [email protected], 503-221-8212, or follow her on LinkedIn or X@maxoregonian.
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