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MLHS employee terminated for inappropriate relations with students

R. HANS MILLER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 weeks, 6 days AGO
by R. HANS MILLER
Managing Editor Rob Miller is a 4-year U.S. Army veteran who grew up in Western Montana in a community about the size of Soap Lake. An honors graduate of Texas State University, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Brandee, and their three dogs, Draco, Pepper and Cinnamon. He has one son, William. During his free time, he enjoys photography, video games, reading and working on the house he and his wife bought in Ephrata. He is passionate about the First Amendment and educating communities. | January 22, 2026 8:40 PM

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School District released a statement Thursday evening indicating that a coach who also served as a substitute teacher had been found to have had inappropriate relationships with three students. 

The situation began after MLSD received a report last May that the staff member was having a relationship with one student. Afterward, the district worked in cooperation with an independent investigator and the Moses Lake Police Department. The investigation led to the discovery of two additional relationships that were deemed inappropriate.  

Moses Lake School District Director of Public Relations Ryan Shannon said the incidents were associated with the Moses Lake High School campus.  

The staff member’s name could not be released due to privacy requirements; however, the MLSD Board of Directors took formal action and terminated the employee.  

“While personnel matters are confidential, the District remains committed to transparency, accountability, and the safety and well-being of its students,” the statement said.  

The employee had been on administrative leave from the district since May 2025, when the complaint was filed, Shannon said.  

Moses Lake Police Department Cpt. Jeff Sursely said MLPD did not have an immediate statement, but one would be forthcoming Friday. 


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