With advice from Basic Rights Oregon, the Beaverton School District has decided to reinstate student teacher Seth Stambaugh to the same fourth grade classroom where he made comments about gay marriage.

Stambaugh, a Lewis and Clark College student teacher, will return to the classroom later next week.

In late September, during a “journaling exercise,” one of Stambaugh’s students asked if he was married. Stambaugh replied that it would be illegal for him to get married in Oregon because he would want to marry a man. A parent of another child in the classroom complained and school officials removed Stambaugh from the school.

Beaverton Superintendent Jerry Colonna worked with Basic Rights Oregon and listened to concerns from his staff before deciding to return Stambaugh to the same classroom.

Below is the statement from Basic Rights Oregon, complete with links to send an email of support to the school district and information about showing support at the upcoming Beaverton School District Board Meeting, where Superintendent Colonna will make discuss his decision to reinstate Stambaugh.

—————-

Many of you have followed the story of student teacher Seth Stambaugh, who was removed from a Beaverton classroom for honestly answering a student’s question about whether he was married. The Beaverton School District has announced that Seth will return to his original post at Sexton Mountain Elementary School next week!

This is welcome news and we need to let the Beaverton School District know that we support this decision and that this is a good step in the right direction by sending them a message.

Beaverton Superintendent Jerry Colonna will discuss the decision at the next Beaverton School Board meeting this Monday. We know that those who oppose the decision will be out in force and we need to make a strong showing of support. Join me as we deliver the message that fairness is a Beaverton value:

Monday, October 25th at 6:30 p.m.
Beaverton School District Administration Center
16550 S.W. Merlo Road
Beaverton

Help spread the word and RSVP on Facebook. It’s critical that we make a public show of our support for Seth and for the District’s decision to reinstate him.

Basic Rights Oregon will continue to work with the Beaverton School District to review and update policies, procedures, curriculum and training. We want to make sure educators, straight or gay, get the support they need to serve their students with honesty and integrity.

See you Monday night!

Jeana Frazzini
Executive Director
Basic Rights Oregon

Tags: Beaverton