Update: Jordan Henderson’s trial has been rescheduled for Feb. 20, 2025.
Four Key Peninsula families are suing the Peninsula School District for allegedly failing to protect their children from a teacher they accused of molesting them at Evergreen Elementary School between 2022 and 2024.
Jordan Henderson, 34, was arrested by Pierce County Sheriff ’s deputies April 18 on suspicion of child molestation. He taught at Evergreen for 10 years. He was under investigation for alleged misconduct and put on administrative leave Feb. 26, according to the Peninsula School District.
The lawsuit was filed Sept. 20 in Pierce County Superior Court by Darrell L. Cochran and Kevin M. Hastings of Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala PLLC.
“We believe that the school district knew, or at minimum should have known, about what was occurring, and that Jordan Henderson was a danger to these young girls and was actively molesting them at various times throughout the school day,” Hastings said in a statement.
Henderson was charged with nine counts of first-degree child molestation against three victims, all former fourth- and fifth-grade students of his. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment April 19 in Superior Court and was released on $100,000 bail and electronic monitoring. The court ordered him not to have contact with any children but his own.
Henderson was arrested a second time at the end of May after he allegedly violated his parole by having gatherings at his home with minors present. The court increased Henderson’s bail to $750,000, which he posted.
Prosecutors entered three new first-degree charges against Henderson June 26 after the parents of a fourth girl contacted investigators. He is now charged with 12 counts of child molestation.
“As of July 1, Jordan Henderson is no longer an employee of the Peninsula School District. He has resigned his position,” Kris Hagel, executive director of digital learning for PSD, told KP News.
Henderson’s trial has been rescheduled for Feb. 20, 2025, in Pierce County Superior Court.
PSD declined to comment on the lawsuit. According to court documents, the suit seeks a jury trial by the spring of 2026.
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