Five families accuse the Peninsula School District and two administrators of failing to protect the young girls.
TACOMA, Wash. — A new federal lawsuit accuses the Peninsula School District and two Evergreen Elementary School administrators of ignoring repeated warnings from former teacher Jordan Henderson sexually abused young girl.
The complaint, filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Tacoma, names the district, Evergreen Elementary School Principal Hugh Maxwell and former Peninsula dean of students/success coach Christy Dalby as defendants.
The document was filed on behalf of five minor girls and their families.
The lawsuit accuses the school district and administrators of civil rights violations, Title IX violations and other charges related to Henderson’s conduct while she worked at Evergreen Elementary School.
Henderson, 36, Sentenced on May 8 He was sentenced in Pierce County Superior Court to 66 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of multiple counts of child molestation involving four former students.
The federal lawsuit accuses Henderson of sexually abusing five girls while teaching fourth and fifth grade students at Evergreen Elementary School.
When reached for comment, Peninsula School District Superintendent of Schools Michael Farmer said, “The safety and well-being of our students remains the foundation of our district. We are aware of the recently filed lawsuit, but unfortunately, we are unable to discuss ongoing litigation.”
School employees and students raised concerns about his interactions with young female students before his arrest, according to the complaint.
According to the lawsuit, educators reported concerns about Henderson as early as the 2019-2020 school year.
The complaint describes reports of physical intimacy with students, girls hugging him, students sitting on the floor next to him and time spent alone with students.
The lawsuit also alleges multiple students reported during the 2022-2023 school year that Henderson made them feel uncomfortable or touched them.
One student testified at Henderson’s criminal trial that she reported an inappropriate hug to Dalby but no action was taken, according to the indictment.
The lawsuit states that Henderson was placed on administrative leave on Feb. 26, 2024, after a student reported inappropriate touching of Maxwell.
Some students had to return to Henderson’s classroom that day after reports were received, the complaint states.
The complaint also alleges that the district began an investigation and retained investigators, but never completed the investigation.
The lawsuit alleges that the district failed to resume the Title IX investigation after law enforcement completed its work and presented the case to prosecutors.
At Henderson’s sentencing, prosecutors argued that Henderson used his role as a teacher to gain access to vulnerable children and abuse them over several years.
Judge Alicia M. Burton said Henderson abused the trust placed in him by parents and students.
Burton said: “You committed these offenses while in a role of extraordinary responsibility. Parents entrusted you with the care and supervision of their children. Students have the right to feel safe in your classroom. Instead, the jury found beyond a reasonable doubt that you used that position of trust to facilitate repeated abuse.”
Prosecutors asked for a sentence above the standard range, saying Henderson remained a danger to the community and had shown little to no responsibility.
Deputy Prosecutor Christine Dixon described Henderson in court as an “untreated sex offender” with no “motivation or interest in improving.”
Several family members spoke in court, describing years of emotional hurt and fear.
One mother told the judge, “His name is like the Voldemort of our family – he should not be mentioned.”
Defense attorneys asked for a lower sentence, arguing Henderson still had support from his family and others.
Court proceedings showed that at least 29 people submitted letters of support for Henderson before sentencing.
Burton said the sentence reflected the seriousness of the offense and the abuse of trust in Henderson’s role as a teacher.
The federal lawsuit seeks damages, attorney’s fees and a jury trial.
KING 5’s Sebastian Robertson contributed to this story.
