Wisconsin Congressmen Demand Evers, DPI Provide Accountability and Transparency on Educator Sexual Misconduct Cases

WAUSAU, WI – Today, Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-07), joined by Glenn Grothman (WI-06), Bryan Steil (WI-01), Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05), and Tony Wied (WI-08), sent a letter demanding full transparency from Governor Tony Evers regarding more than 200 undisclosed cases involving Wisconsin teachers, aides, substitutes, and administrators accused of sexual misconduct and grooming behavior. This follows a report by The Capital Times, which reveals that between 2018 and 2023, under then-DPI Superintendent Tony Evers and current Superintendent Jill Underly, over 200 sexual misconduct cases were shielded from the public. 

Additionally, reporting shows that when DPI was first informed of this potential misconduct by these educators, the Department devoted few resources into investigation, ultimately failing to properly track, investigate, or share information with the public. Instead, DPI allowed the accused to simply hand over their teaching license to avoid a full investigation. 

In the letter, the lawmakers write to Governor Evers, "Now, we are sure you are well aware of these investigations given that the cases all occurred under your leadership. You led the DPI as Wisconsin’s Superintendent from 2009 to 2019 and, now as Governor, have had oversight over both the DPI’s current Superintendent Jill Underly and DPI operations. Since you and your administration have been unwilling to disclose these investigations in the past, we are now requesting full transparency." 

"Rather than covering up these allegations, each incident should be thoroughly investigated and, if verified, the public and the student’s parents should be informed. We echo many of the same questions that members of Wisconsin State Legislature have asked in a recent letter to Superintendent Jill Underly and request that you and the Superintendent hastily answer the letter in its entirety. Our kids deserve safety. Our parents deserve transparency. Wisconsinites deserve answers," concluded the lawmakers. 

As published in The Capital Times, records showed: 

• A fellow educator saw a Racine teacher kissing a high school student. District administrators let the teacher resign and provided him with a neutral letter of reference.
• Stevens Point administrators directed a teacher to stop being alone with students after they found he violated the district’s sexual harassment policy. Administrators let him keep teaching, though.
• Colleagues saw a Sheboygan special education aide kiss a fifth grader on the lips. However, school investigators determined the conduct was "motherly."

You can read the full letter here.  

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