PSD Settles Lawsuit Over Teacher Molestation Convictions

Evergreen Elementary School in Lakebay.

Evergreen Facebook

The Peninsula School District settled two state and federal lawsuits stemming from the January conviction of former Evergreen Elementary School teacher Jordan R. Henderson for child molestation charges.

Henderson, 37, was sentenced May 8 in Pierce County Superior Court to 66 years to life in prison after being found guilty in January of 12 counts of first-degree child molestation, specifically inappropriate touching, of four of his fifth-grade girl students over two years (See “Former Evergreen Teacher Gets 66 Years to Life for Molesting Students,” May 2026). A fifth student was involved in a subsequent federal lawsuit. Henderson taught at Evergreen for 11 years.

The two lawsuits were brought by families of the victims and alleged that PSD and school administrators failed to protect students or investigate claims of Henderson's behavior. They were both settled in August for a total of $23.2 million, and approved Oct. 20, according to the U.S. District Court for Western Washington and Pierce County Superior Court records. The settlement resolves all claims against the district and individual administrators.

In a statement to KP News, PSD Chief of Schools Michael Farmer wrote, “We can confirm that the district reached an agreement to resolve the litigation around the conduct of a former employee, Jordan Henderson, through a settlement funded entirely by our insurers. … It is our sincere hope that the survivors and their families feel a sense of closure as they continue on their path toward healing.”