The parent of a student enrolled at Lincoln Middle School in 2022, filed a civil lawsuit in April against Rio Rancho Public Schools, the superintendent and principal of the school, alleging his daughter was sexually harassed by a teacher.
The lawsuit alleges that on April 4, 2022, a female student was in Todd Ganger’s classroom when she walked up to his desk during class. While at his desk, the lawsuit alleges, he sexually rubbed the student’s buttocks.
The lawsuit states that due to Ganger’s alleged actions, the student suffered humiliation, mental distress, fear and emotional suffering and that RRPS did not investigate and terminate Ganger as soon as officials found out about the incident.
The lawsuit says the student reported the incident to her parents, who then reported it to the school but the school didn’t do enough to investigate the incident and protect their daughter or other students from this teacher.
Wyndham Kemsley, communications director for RRPS, told the Sandoval Signpost that Ganger is no longer employed by the district.
“I can confirm that he resigned in February of 2023,” Kemsley said.
Kemsley said any inappropriate behavior between teachers and students at RRPS is unacceptable.
“We have a full team here at Rio Rancho Public Schools to investigate any reports of wrongdoing. We take matters like this incredibly seriously,” Kemsley said.
The Sandoval Signpost reached out to Ganger for comment on these allegations, but he did not respond by press time.
The Sandoval Signpost contacted the family’s attorney for comment on the case but did not hear back by press time.
It is unclear who Ganger’s attorney is at this time.
LinkedIn and Facebook profiles found by the Sandoval Signpost for a Todd Ganger listing prior employment as a “sixth grade math teacher at Lincoln Middle School, Rio Rancho” now identify him working at Northland Christian School in Missouri. When the Signpost reached out to confirm his employment with Northland school administration, we were told they would respond via email but they had not done so by press time. An online staff directory for the Christian school listed a Todd Ganger as a 6th grade teacher in the staff directory as of May 24. As of Tuesday, May 28, after the Signpost contacted the school, Todd Ganger was no longer listed in the staff directory.
Sexual harassment policy
RRPS Sexual Harassment Policy 1017, states that the Board of Education forbids harassment of any student on the basis of sex. The board will not tolerate sexual harassment of students by employees or by other students.
“The intent of this policy regarding conduct between employees and students is clear and straightforward: No employee of the school district may engage in any conduct of a sexual nature with any student, regardless of the student’s age, ability to consent or actual consent,” the policy states.
The lawsuit alleges RRPS failed to take action to protect the student and other students at the school, and that the student’s 14th Amendment right to be secure in her bodily integrity and free from sexual assault by her teacher was violated by the teacher’s actions.