New documents provide details of LAUSD probe that led to firing of famed educator Rafe Esquith
Rafe Esquith, the most celebrated teacher in L.A., was removed from his classroom this spring. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)
e Los Angeles Unified School District’s internal investigation into celebrated fifth-grade teacher Rafe Esquith found that he allegedly fondled children in the 1970s and that in recent years he inappropriately emailed former students describing them as hotties, “sexy” and referring to himself as their personal ATM, according to new documents.
The district fired Esquith in October, after removing him from his Hobart Boulevard Elementary School classroom in April, pending the investigation. District officials initially offered few details about the months-long probe, which began with a complaint from another educator after Esquith made a joke to his students about nudity. The investigation quickly grew to include other allegations of misconduct.
Records released this week by L.A. Unified to the Los Angeles Times under the California Public Records Act allege “immoral” and “egregious” misconduct by the educator who taught at the school for more than 30 years. The documents also charge that Esquith had acted dishonestly, was unfit for service and persistently violated or refused to obey district rules.
Esquith, who has denied wrongdoing, did not appeal his termination, district officials said.
His lawyers have sued L.A. Unified, accusing them of retaliating against Esquith for filing a lawsuit and class action litigation that alleges age discrimination and violations of due process and whistleblower protections.
Esquith gained national acclaim for his teaching techniques, productions of Shakespeare and best-selling books that became models for engaging students, particularly minority and low-income children. His removal from the classroom outraged supporters across the country.
Attorney Mark Geragos, who represents Esquith, did not respond to phone calls and emails seeking comment. But in a letter Monday to L.A. Unified before it released the documents, Geragos wrote that he wanted to make sure that “all records are produced rather than just those cherry-picked by LAUSD to generate a fraudulent narrative.”
“This is LAUSD’s latest effort to smear,” Geragos wrote.
The district’s investigative team, which includes former L.A. Police Department detectives, launched an investigation after an educator complained in March that Esquith made an New documents provide details of LAUSD probe that led to firing of famed educator Rafe Esquith - LA Times:
