Lake Stevens School District Pays Millions to Settle Sexual Grooming Lawsuit

Lake Stevens School District has agreed to pay millions to former student Kalynn Taber, now 19, to resolve a pending lawsuit. In addition, the District has agreed to increase its training of both school staff and district-level administrators related to topics including sexual grooming and mandatory reporting.

Plaintiff’s lawsuit alleged that Mark Hein, a math teacher at Lake Stevens Sr. High School, targeted students, including Kalynn, then a sophomore math student, and engaged in a pattern and practice of sexual grooming behavior.

She reported Hein in January 2022 to Principal Leslie Ivelia and Associate Principal Tonya Grinde. Hein, told to have no contact with the student, continued to “bump into her” at school through April 2022.

Lake Stevens School District did not notify law enforcement, nor was Hein placed on administrative leave until August 2022, when an outside counselor advised law enforcement of the teacher’s conduct and a police investigation was launched.

Though Hein was arrested following a police investigation, the Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office declined to pursue charges.

The lawsuit set forth that the District repeatedly failed to protect students by ignoring mandatory reporting laws, refused to advise the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) of Hein’s conduct as required by state law (WAC 181-86-110) and internal policy (LSSD 4900), failed to end the harassment, or conduct a competent investigation, among other failures.

“Forcing a 15 year-old to participate in years’ long litigation to ensure that school professionals protect kids is a betrayal to every child in the Lake Stevens School District. Kalynn Taber and her family have repeatedly proven themselves much braver than the adults charged with keeping her safe,” said Attorney Maridith Ramsey. “The Taber family is relieved to close this chapter and hopes that the increased district-wide training results in protection of all students in the future.”

Hein resigned from his position after more than two years of paid leave to avoid participating in an internal investigation. The District also paid Hein a severance of $122,184.00 in January 2025.

As a result of the Taber’s lawsuit, an OSPI investigation into Hein’s teaching certificate is now pending.

Chari, Kalynn’s mom, added:

“Our family has been fighting for nearly 5 years to affect change and ensure all LSSD students are safe and predators are reported immediately. If the idea is see something say something, then the district needs to believe the students and take action. My daughter suffered more than any child should, but her strength removed a predator from LSHS, and exposed a serious need for policy change and accountability.”