MORTON, Wash. – A history teacher who was fired for inappropriately touching girls, only to win his job back on appeal, has resigned.
Michael Moulton, 57, has signed an agreement that will keep him on paid administrative leave through Aug. 31. He will still be paid for June, July and August, Morton Superintendent Tom Manke said.
Moulton is in line to earn $64,174 this year, reports the Centralia Chronicle.
Moulton entered an Alford plea after being accused of inappropriately touching four girls in 2008. An Alford plea is not an admission of guilt, but acknowledgement by the defendant that he would likely be found guilty at trial. Moulton said the unwelcome touchings were pats meant as encouragement for good work.
Moulton has been on paid administrative leave this entire school year. State Superintendent Randy Dorn had suspended Moulton's license for three years, but Moulton reportedly appealed and had it reduced to two years.
At the start of this past school year, parents demonstrated outside the school and demanded Moulton be kicked out of the classroom permanently. Moulton called in sick for several days.
