Key Takeaways
- A Lakeridge High School counselor, Christopher Keller, is under investigation by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office and the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission.
- The investigation is related to a possible child abuse incident, but details are scarce due to privacy laws.
- Keller’s lawyer, Mark Cogan, has asked the public not to rush to judgment until all facts are known.
- The Lake Oswego School District is reviewing a request for public records regarding incidents involving Lakeridge staff.
- The Oregon Department of Human Services has not received any allegations of child abuse that meet the criteria for investigation.
Introduction to the Investigation
A Lakeridge High School counselor, Christopher Keller, is the subject of investigations by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office and the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission. Until recently, Keller was listed as one of four counselors at Lakeridge High School, but his name has since been removed, and an assistant principal is now working with the students previously assigned to him. The Oregonian first reported the investigations involving Keller, and his lawyer, Mark Cogan, has asked the public not to rush to judgment until all facts are known.
Response from the Lawyer and School District
Cogan, a Portland criminal defense attorney, is representing Keller and has released a statement asking the public to reserve judgment until all facts are known. "Our client has not been formally charged with anything," Cogan wrote. "We have not seen any evidence of wrongdoing. Mr. Keller is presumed innocent." The Lake Oswego School District is reviewing a request for public records regarding incidents involving Lakeridge staff, and the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office has declined to give any details about the investigation, citing the need to protect its integrity.
Incident Report and Investigation Details
An incident report filed in November at Lakeridge High School notes "info – poss child abuse" as the offense, but nearly everything else in the document is redacted due to privacy laws. The Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that Keller is the subject of an investigation but has not provided any further details. If misconduct involving children was involved, the Oregon Department of Human Services would be the state agency to investigate the complaints. However, the agency has stated that it has not received any allegations of child abuse that meet the criteria for investigation.
Related Investigations and Departures
Rumors have been circulating following the announced departure of Lakeridge principal Desiree Fisher, who will retire at the end of the month. The district has stated that Fisher’s departure is unrelated to the investigation involving Keller. However, there is an investigation with the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission involving Fisher, according to a message the agency sent to OPB. Superintendent Jennifer Schiele has referenced safety in a message to staff, students, and families, stating that the safety of students is always the highest priority and that all reported concerns have been taken seriously and thoroughly investigated.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The investigation into Christopher Keller is ongoing, and details are scarce due to privacy laws. The Lake Oswego School District and the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office are working to investigate the allegations, and the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission is also involved. The public is being asked to reserve judgment until all facts are known, and the district is prioritizing the safety of its students. As the investigation continues, more information may become available, but for now, the details of the incident and the investigation remain limited.
