SEQUIM — An 18-year Sequim School District employee who taught chorale and served as director of the elite Sequim High School Ambassador Choir has been fired.
Dave Cross was notified March 12 by Superintendent Garn Christensen that findings from a six-week investigation reveal conduct that was “unprofessional and inappropriate,” and represented a “flagrant disregard of generally recognized professional standards,” according to a 60-page report obtained Thursday by Peninsula Daily News.
Cross also taught choir at Sequim Middle School.
He was placed on paid administrative leave Jan. 21 after a preliminary investigation was prompted when a fellow teacher reportedly read an inappropriate e-mail written by Cross to a student.
A full investigation followed, including interviews with several of Cross’ current and former students and the use of computer forensics to retrieve e-mail messages he had sent and received to students through the school district’s e-mail system.
PDN obtained copies of dozens of e-mails, representing what Christensen said was more than 200 messages retrieved from the hard drive of school computers.
Cross did not return phone calls by the PDN this week seeking comment on his firing, the investigation, or his intent to appeal the termination.
Christensen’s discharge letter to Cross indicated that the teacher hadn’t specifically denied any of the allegations.
Instead, Cross suggested things were “taken out of context.”
