SNOHOMISH—Julian Parker, 37, an assistant principal at Centennial Middle School in the Snohomish School District remains on leave following his November 6 arrest after allegations of child sex abuse. Judge Tam Bui set bail at $50,000, and he was ordered to have no contact with minors.
Parker was placed on leave after over a decade in education. Before his time as assistant principal, he served as the Dean of Students at Explorer Middle School in Everett (Sept 2017), and a Math Teacher at Worth McClure Middle School in Seattle (Sept 2012 – Aug 2017) according to his LinkedIn profile.
As of December 12, the district had not reported the arrest to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), and therefore OSPI and its Office of Professional Practices (OPP) have not taken any disciplinary actions against Parker or revoked his teaching certificate.
“[OPP] does not have an investigation open into this individual’s certificate. OPP has connected with the school district, and the district confirmed that they are aware of the police investigation,” said OSPI’s Chief Communications Officer Katy Payne.
To open an investigation, OPP must first receive an official complaint from the superintendent.
“Outside of receiving a complaint, OPP could open a complaint if the individual is facing a criminal charge, though it looks like that is not the case at this time,” Payne said.
On December 12, the Everett Herald reported that Parker’s attorney said the charge has been “dismissed”; however, the county prosecutor calls it “an open file.”
The Lynnwood Times requested the records from Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office to clarify the confusion, but due to backlogging, the office is unable to provide records at this time. The office expects the records will not be available for another 8 weeks.
“We’ve been behind for several years,” said one representative.
In the meantime, Parker’s teaching certificate is still valid but could be placed under review if he is charged.
The school district did not report the arrest to OSPI because it is a “non-school related allegation,” said Foley.
WAC 181-86-110 requires a superintendent to file a complaint if he or she “possesses sufficient reliable information to believe that a certificated employee within such district or approved private school is not of good moral character or personally fit or has committed an act of unprofessional conduct.”
According to Payne, superintendents can file a complaint either when an educator is arrested, charges are filed, or when there is a conviction.
“Those decisions depend on the superintendent and their own legal guidance,” Payne said.
The Lynnwood Times reached out to the Snohomish School District to determine what actions the district has taken upon learning of the arrest.
“Please be assured that as soon as the district became aware of the non-school related allegations, the district placed the assistant principal on administrative leave,” said Kristin Foley, the district’s communications director.
The Lynnwood Times asked if any notification was sent to the community, staff, or parents following the arrest or Parker’s leave. But the school district will not answer questions via phone, or add information beyond the emailed statement.
According to Foley, her brief email “is the only information we are providing.”
Parker’s social media profiles have been deleted.
“Public education is the most influential social institution in the United States; the foundation upon which our society rests. As such it has been my academic focus and vocational pursuit for over a decade” Julian Parker wrote on the now-deleted LinkedIn profile.
