I walked into my daughter’s school and came face to face with a man who sexually harassed me 20 years ago. He looked from me, to my daughter, and back to me. And smirked.
August 2025
I learned via a simple Google search that in November 2024, he left his position as an assistant principal in southern Maine amidst sexual harassment allegations. Lewiston Public Schools had hired him as an ed tech. Then he was promoted to school counselor for grades 4 through 6 at my daughter’s school.
My daughter is in fourth grade.
I reported what I found to the district superintendent.
What followed made it clear that the protections parents assume are in place when it comes to hiring educators and investigating misconduct don’t exist.
Loophole after loophole results in people who harm children and educators getting to move from district to district with very little to check them at the door.
September-November 2025
When his previous district wouldn’t answer our district’s questions, I was investigated. And it wasn’t enough. He was allowed back at my child’s school, knew I was the one who reported him, and there was very little the school could - or would - do to make sure my child was safe from this person.
February-March 2026
When I worked with my state senator to attempt to fix these issues through legislation, we were met with appropriate attempts to balance safety with employee rights at best and inappropriate but successful attempts at shifting the conversation to false accusations and “frivolous complaints” at worst.
I was talked down to and treated like I didn’t know what I’m talking about, despite being a nationally recognized communications expert in sexual violence and someone who is very intimately aware of how reporting goes.
April 2026
A very watered down version of the legislation passed, and while it’s a start, people like him and others like him can still be hired at any school district in Maine tomorrow.
It’s not enough for me, and it shouldn’t be enough for you either.
About Cara
Cara grew up in downtown Lewiston and is a graduate of Smith College. Cara is a mother, a communications professional, and documentarian of what happens when men assume that no one will name the harm they cause.