Oregon teacher accused of sexual misconduct that school district was ‘fully aware’ of

Jashayla Pettigrew

Fri, November 28, 2025 at 8:10 PM UTC

2 min read

Editor’s note: This story shares details of child sex abuse that may be disturbing for readers.

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Alumni of an Oregon school district have alleged that a former teacher sexually abused them, as other faculty members were “fully aware” of the misconduct.

In a $10.5 million lawsuit filed on Wednesday, Cascades School District teacher Etta Archer Gross was accused of engaging in sexual relationships with several of her students. The district was also accused of allowing the behavior to continue.

Homicide investigation underway after SE Portland stabbing

Court documents claimed that Gross abused one of the plaintiffs over two years during high school while he was a student of hers and then her teacher’s aide. The other male plaintiff was a middle school student, but served as her teacher’s aide as part of an “alternative program,” according to the complaint.

Attorneys alleged that Gross first sexually harassed one of the plaintiffs by telling him, “God I want to stick my hands in your pocket,” before reaching her hand into his pants to fondle him. With the other plaintiff, attorneys alleged that she repeatedly commented on how developed he was for his age and would put his hand up her shirt while teaching a class for students with autism and Down syndrome.

The lawsuit further accuses Gross of “repeated phone calls to Plaintiffs’ family homes, transporting Plaintiffs from the school to Gross’ personal apartment to sexually assault, batter and sodomize the students, providing alcoholic beverages to minors, transporting Plaintiffs to sporting and other events for time alone with them, and wearing their clothing (for example, a numbered school football team jersey) during school days and hours.”

According to TFK Law’s Tonna Faxon, the abuse cited in the complaint is believed to have begun in 2002. The lawyer noted she has heard from another victim whose abuse began in 2001.

In a statement, CSD Communications Director Gregg Koskela said the district was made aware of the lawsuit through an article published earlier this week, but the administration hadn’t received any official documentation with specific details as of Wednesday.

Report: Actor says ICE officers called her Oregon tribal ID ‘fake’

“Because this involves pending litigation, the District is legally unable to comment on the matter,” Koskela added in the statement. “What we can reaffirm, however, is our unwavering commitment to student safety.”

The lawsuit claimed that Gross is currently on administrative leave.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.

About Our Ads

Source