Lake Stevens district pays $2M sexual harassment settlement

EVERETT — The Lake Stevens School District agreed to pay $2 million to a former student who said administration failed to protect her against the alleged sexual grooming behavior of a former math teacher.

Kalynn Taber, now 19, filed, through attorney Maridith Ramsey, a lawsuit in August 2024 against the district, claiming the district ignored mandatory reporting laws when Mark Hein attempted to build trust with multiple students to control and abuse them emotionally, physically and sexually, a press release said.

According to the lawsuit, the inappropriate behavior began in September 2021 and included unwanted touching, inappropriate notes, preferential treatment, maintained close proximity and an invitation to an overnight Christian camp that he chaperoned.

The lawsuit claimed that the district did not notify the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction of Hein’s actions, as required by state law and school district policy, and failed to end the harassment, among other failures.

https://www.heraldnet.com/2026/04/07/lake-stevens-district-pays-2m-sexual-harassment-settlement/