Second Lawsuit Targets Golden Valley School for Alleged Staff Misconduct
A second lawsuit filed Wednesday accuses Harvest Best Academy in Golden Valley, Minnesota, of failing to protect students from alleged sexual misconduct by staff members. The plaintiff, identified as Doe 605, claims former educator and Minnesota Teacher of the Year Abdul Wright sexually assaulted her while she was an eighth-grade student beginning in fall 2016.
5 Key Points
- Doe 605 alleges Wright “engaged in boundary violations and targeted grooming” from 2016 to 2017
- A criminal complaint filed in August 2024 charges Wright with first-degree criminal sexual conduct
- Wright received the Minnesota Teacher of the Year award months after the alleged assaults
- This is the second lawsuit against Harvest Best Academy involving staff sexual misconduct
- The lawsuit claims the school knew of Wright’s history of sexual misconduct allegations from 2011-2012
What Are the Specific Allegations Against Abdul Wright?
The lawsuit filed Wednesday identifies Abdul Wright as a former educator, youth basketball coach, and Minnesota Teacher of the Year recipient who allegedly engaged in “boundary violations and targeted grooming” of the plaintiff from 2016 to 2017. According to court documents, Wright was named Minnesota Teacher of the Year months after the alleged assaults reportedly took place, in part inside the classroom. A criminal complaint filed in August 2024 charged Wright with first-degree criminal sexual conduct for the alleged ongoing abuse.
The legal action taken against Wright is particularly disturbing, given his prestigious status as an educator. The timing of his Teacher of the Year award raises questions about the vetting process and oversight within the Minnesota education system. Legal experts note that cases involving award-winning educators often receive heightened scrutiny due to the apparent disconnect between public recognition and alleged private misconduct.
What Previous Incidents Occurred at Harvest Best Academy?
This is not the first time Harvest Best Academy has faced such allegations. The lawsuit comes after another former teacher and coach at Best Academy, Aaron Hjermstad, was charged in 2020 and convicted of first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving four assault survivors in 2022.
In February, the Minnesota Supreme Court made a significant ruling regarding the school’s hiring practices. The court determined Best Academy was negligent with its hiring of Hjermstad, as it did not follow the school’s background check or reference requirements for employment. Prosecutors stated that had proper procedures been followed, the school would have been aware of Hjermstad’s previous sexual assault allegations regarding at least one 12-year-old at his former workplace, Excell Academy Charter School in Brooklyn Park.
This pattern of allegations raises serious concerns about student safety protocols and administrative oversight at the educational institution. Child safety advocates point to these repeated incidents as evidence of potentially systemic failures in protecting vulnerable students.
What Did the School Allegedly Know About Wright’s Past?
The lawsuit contains troubling claims about Wright’s history and the school’s knowledge of prior incidents. The latest lawsuit naming Best Academy and Wright as co-defendants claims the school was aware of Wright’s history of sexual misconduct claims, revealing two fellow school employees reported Wright had assaulted them separately, in similar manners, in 2011 and 2012.
The lawsuit claims Best Academy “should have learned” that Wright was not fit to work with children before he was hired and had a “duty to protect Doe 605 from injury.” This allegation directly challenges the school’s hiring practices and supervision policies, suggesting a potential pattern of negligence in addressing staff misconduct.
Education policy experts note that schools have a legal and ethical obligation to thoroughly investigate staff members’ backgrounds, particularly when working with minors. The allegations in this case suggest a possible failure to implement appropriate safeguards despite prior warning signs.
How Does This Case Compare to Other School Sexual Abuse Lawsuits?
School sexual abuse lawsuits have unfortunately become increasingly common across the United States. Similar cases have emerged in various districts involving allegations of administrative negligence and failure to protect students. These lawsuits often highlight institutional failures in reporting, investigating, and preventing staff sexual misconduct.
Cases involving negligent hiring practices have resulted in substantial settlements and judgments against school districts nationwide. Legal experts emphasize that schools have a heightened duty of care when it comes to protecting minors under their supervision. Failure to properly screen or monitor staff can result in significant liability.
Child safety advocates point to these cases as evidence supporting the need for more stringent background checks, regular training for all staff on recognizing warning signs, and transparent reporting protocols when concerns arise about inappropriate staff-student interactions.
FAQ
Q: What is the legal basis for suing the school rather than just the alleged perpetrator?
A: Schools have a legal duty to protect students under their care. When institutions fail to screen employees properly, ignore warning signs, or improperly handle misconduct allegations, they can be liable for negligence. This is especially true when there’s evidence suggesting the school knew about or should have known about potential risks.
Q: How common are sexual abuse allegations in schools?
A: While exact statistics vary, educational settings unfortunately see significant numbers of sexual misconduct allegations annually. The true prevalence may be higher than reported figures suggest, as many incidents go unreported due to fear, shame, or lack of proper reporting mechanisms.
Q: What should parents look for as warning signs of inappropriate teacher-student relationships?
A: Warning signs may include a teacher singling out a student for special attention or privileges, excessive private communication, meeting alone, giving personal gifts, discussing inappropriate topics, or showing unusual interest in a student’s personal life outside academic concerns.
Q: What responsibilities do schools have in preventing sexual misconduct?
A: Schools must conduct thorough background checks on all employees, provide regular training on appropriate boundaries, establish clear reporting procedures, promptly investigate all allegations, report suspected abuse to proper authorities, and maintain appropriate supervision of staff-student interactions.
Q: How might this case impact school policies in Minnesota?
A: This case could lead to stricter enforcement of existing background check requirements, implementation of additional screening procedures, enhanced monitoring of staff-student interactions, and more rigorous mandatory reporting training for all school employees.
Citations
KARE 11. (April 2024). New lawsuit filed against metro school over sexual abuse allegations toward former staff. KARE 11.
