A school music teacher has been placed on leave by the Salem-Keizer School District in the face of a civil lawsuit accusing him of misconduct with two women while they were students at McNary High School.
Joshua Rist, 35, is a teacher at Kalapuya Elementary School in west Salem. District spokesman Aaron Harada confirmed Monday that he is on leave.
School district officials notified school parents about the change through an email sent Sunday night, according to Harada.
“Effective tomorrow, Mr. Rist will no longer be at Kalapuya Elementary School. We will assign a substitute music teacher. We look forward to the continuation of an excellent school year at Kalapuya Elementary School,” the message signed by Salem-Keizer Public Schools said.
In the days since the lawsuit, parents shared their concerns with school and district leadership. Harada said Friday that at least 14 students requested to stop being in music class.
The leave is the third time Rist has been taken off the job over misconduct allegations since he joined the district in 2013.
District officials said he was on leave from May 28, 2021, to Aug. 18, 2022, and again on Feb. 9, 2023. He returned to school service in September after enduring a two-month license suspension for his conduct with the two women.
The district acted after two women sued the district and Rist on Sept. 27. In their court complaint, the two said they were groomed by Rist, who then subjected them to explicit conversations, massages and “lingering hugs.”
On Friday, Jennifer Neitzel, principal at Kalapuya Elementary School, shared a message to families at the school.
“I am sure that many of you have seen the news involving a lawsuit against one of our employees and the school district. What I know is that when issues arise, the district investigates. And the District cooperated in all investigations conducted by our partner agencies, which include law enforcement and TSPC. I cannot provide comment on the lawsuit, but you should know that this is a moving process, and the district is involved,” she said in the statement.
Harada said Monday the district would not comment on pending litigation.
“The district is aware of and fully cooperated in the investigation by both law enforcement and TSPC. Mr. Rist was on leave during the investigation. The district is focused on the safe education of its students. Mr. Rist is currently on leave and the district is assigning a substitute music teacher to Kalapuya.”
Previous coverage:
Managing Editor Rachel Alexander contributed to this story.
Contact reporter Abbey McDonald: [email protected] or 503-704-0355.
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Abbey McDonald joined the Salem Reporter in 2022. She previously worked as the business reporter at The Astorian, where she covered labor issues, health care and social services. A University of Oregon grad, she has also reported for the Malheur Enterprise, The News-Review and Willamette Week.
