Teacher accused of sexual misconduct appeals firing

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Michele Taylor, the 31-year-old East Valley High School physical education teacher accused of having sex with a 16-year-old male student last spring, is appealing termination from her job.

Taylor has asked for a hearing, and that request "constitutes an appeal of the probable-cause letter for termination" that the East Valley School District sent her earlier this month, according to Seattle attorney Michael Patterson, who represents the school district.

The letter, sent Nov. 2, informed Taylor, who's been on paid leave since June, that the school district intends to end her contract. Taylor had 10 days from her receipt of the letter to decide whether she wants to appeal the decision.

Bremerton attorney Joe Evans, who works for the Washington Education Association and represents Taylor on personnel matters, declined to talk about the appeal.

"I can't talk to you about that," he said. "I represent her, but it's an administrative matter. It's a closed matter."

When district officials met with Taylor on Oct. 21, she denied the allegations against her, according to Patterson. After that meeting, district officials said they would further investigate the allegations and interview witnesses. And based on that investigation, they found probable cause to terminate her, according to Patterson.

The next step is for both sides to select and agree upon a hearing officer, who will weigh the evidence and determine whether there is indeed probable cause for Taylor's termination.

"We'd like to see it all happen within the next 30 days," Patterson said.

After a hearing, it can take about a week for a hearing officer to make a binding decision.

Taylor made her first appearance in Yakima County Superior Court on Oct. 16. She's charged with first-degree sexual misconduct for allegedly having sex with a 16-year-old male student in the back of her truck outside the Yakima Kmart store.

She's also charged with two counts of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes. Authorities allege she exchanged more than 400 text messages with the 16-year-old as well as a 15-year-old student between March and June.

Ulvar Klein is her criminal defense attorney.

Taylor has taught P.E. at East Valley High School since 2004. Her husband, Kevin Taylor, is also a P.E. teacher in the district.

The criminal trial scheduled to begin Dec. 21.

* Adriana Janovich can be reached at 509-577-7653 or ajanovich@yakimaherald.com.