Former Oak Creek teacher lied to investigators, tried to have report, suspension removed, report says
The personnel records of a former Oak Creek High School teacher accused of sexually assaulting a student show she lied to investigators and tried to have the investigative report and her suspension removed.
The Journal Sentinel obtained Rachel Goodle's personnel file through an open records request. Goodle was charged in July 2023 with second-degree sexual assault of a child younger than 16 and sexual assault of a student by school staff. That personnel file included a copy of the district's investigation into Goodle, and her attempt to remove the investigative report from her file as well as the district's recommendation of a suspension.
Goodle had sued in Milwaukee County Circuit Court to try to prevent the release of her personnel records, filing two lawsuits. Judge David Borowski ruled in the district's favor in both cases, allowing for the records to be released.
Here's what to know about the case and the information in those files.
What did the district's investigative report reveal?
The investigations found that students viewed Goodle as "flirtatious" with boys. It also discovered that, although Goodle claimed never to have been alone with a student and that her classroom door was always open, video shows that Goodle was alone in her classroom with a student before the two attended a JV girls' basketball game together on Dec. 2, 2022.
After the investigation, the student's parents and district administration concluded there had been no sexual contact between the teacher and student, based on statements by Goodle and the student.
The report also noted that Goodle lied to school officials several times in the course of their investigation.
What type of suspension did the district give Goodle and how did she react?
The district suspended Goodle for 10 days without pay "for obstructing the investigation and engaging in unacceptable and inappropriate conduct."
Goodle filed a grievance Jan. 18, 2023, saying that she was not allowed to contact witnesses and disputing the disciplinary suspension since the investigation found no evidence of any improper relationship.
Goodle's grievance included a request that the superintendent or another third party review the investigation's findings and disciplinary action. Additionally, she maintained that a male teacher would have been treated differently. She also asked that the report and her suspension be removed from her personnel file.
On Feb. 7, 2023, then Oak Creek-Franklin School District superintendent Dan Unertl wrote a letter to Goodle saying that, after reviewing her grievance and meeting with her, he had determined the investigative report should remain in her file. But he also reduced Goodle's suspension from 10 days to five, then four, based on Goodle's explanations.
Why were criminal charges filed against Goodle?
The criminal complaint filed in Milwaukee County Circuit Court in July 2023 said the Oak Creek Police Department "was made aware of a possible inappropriate relationship" between a student and teacher at the high school. The complaint does not specify when the department became involved.
When Oak Creek Police Detective Zachary Case questioned the student, the student said "there were rumors for months" of a relationship between him and Goodle. He also told Case that the two had sex in Goodle's classroom, the complaint said.
When does Goodle's trial begin?
A final pretrial hearing has been scheduled for April 4; a jury status hearing has been scheduled for April 19, and the jury trial is scheduled to begin April 22.
If convicted, Goodle could face up to 46 years in prison.
Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or alec.johnson@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Former Oak Creek teacher tried to have investigation, suspension removed, report says
