St. Helens High School appoints new acting principal after predecessor's arrest

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The St. Helens School District has appointed a new acting principal for St. Helens High School after the previous principal was arrested.

Dr. Charlotte Ellis was named the new acting principal for St. Helens High School, the district said on Tuesday. Her first day in the role will be on Wednesday.

Ellis has over 35 years of experience working in education in roles that include as a teacher, superintendent, principal and coach, the district said in a release. Her areas of focus will be to stabilize the St. Helens High School administration, rebuild relationships and trust among community members and elevate student voices, officials said.

This all comes after the previous St. Helens High School principal, Katy Wagner, was arrested and accused of two counts of felony first-degree criminal mistreatment and four misdemeanors: two counts of first-degree official misconduct and two counts of second-degree official misconduct. She pleaded not guilty to the six charges after appearing in court on Nov. 27.

The St. Helens Police Department alleged Wagner failed to uphold her duties to notify law enforcement about abuse allegations reported by students.

Last month, former principal Wagner was initially put on leave after news broke that a current teacher, Eric Stearns, and a former teacher, Mark Collins, were both arrested for alleged sexual abuse of students.

After the initial two arrests, authorities announced two more St. Helens High School employees were also being investigated for alleged sex abuse and one St. Helens Middle School teacher was also under investigation for "offensive physical contact."

St. Helens School District Superintendent Scot Stockwell is also on leave and under investigation for neglecting to report child safety concerns, officials said. He has been replaced by St. Helens Interim Superintendent Dr. Steve Webb, who previously parted ways as the superintendent of the Vancouver School District in 2021.

Below is a statement released by St. Helens Interim Superintendent Webb about the appointment of St. Helens High School Acting Principal Dr. Charlotte Ellis:

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Ellis to St. Helens High School. Her track record of success in leading schools and her focus on building safe, supportive, and equitable learning environments will be invaluable as we work together to ensure the success of every student. With the added expertise of Mr. Ken Parshall, I am confident our St. Helens High School administrative team will move the school forward in meaningful and impactful ways,” states Dr. Steve Webb, Acting Superintendent.

"Dr. Ellis earned her Doctorate in Education with a specialization in Leadership for Learning from the University of Washington. She brings a wealth of experience to her role, having served as Principal at Stevens Middle School, Assistant Principal at Pasco High School, Director of Teaching and Learning, and Executive Director of School Leadership. Throughout her career, she has led initiatives in professional development, curriculum alignment, and the implementation of student-centered practices, demonstrating her commitment to fostering academic excellence and meaningful learning experiences.

"When asked about her upcoming work at St. Helens High School, Dr. Ellis stated, "My moral purpose has always been rooted in a deep commitment to serving others and putting students first, and it is this guiding principle that has led me to this role. I am deeply honored to serve the St. Helens community and am dedicated to listening with empathy, responding with care and compassion, and working tirelessly to rebuild the trust that is essential to our schools and community. A key part of this effort is lifting the voices of our students, ensuring they are heard and valued. As a servant leader, I place students at the heart of every decision and to do what is right for them. I look forward to beginning this important work immediately."