OSPI Suspends Teaching Certificate for Bethel District Educator
The Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction has placed Matthew Brooke’s teaching credential on hold for at least three months.
Brooke, who served as a physical education instructor across three elementary campuses in the Bethel School District during the 2021–22 and 2022–23 academic years, is subject to the suspension following an inquiry into a series of professional misconduct incidents.
Inappropriate Student Interactions
Documentation from the disciplinary process indicates Brooke consistently blurred professional lines with students in his care. In early 2022, while stationed at Camas Prairie Elementary, he was seen spending unsupervised time with a cluster of fifth-grade girls during recess in a less-frequented section of the school grounds. Similar observations occurred later the same day, prompting the school’s lead administrator to advise him on broadening the demographic composition of student groups he engaged with.
The conduct persisted into the subsequent academic year. At Clover Creek Elementary in March 2023, Brooke sketched a portrait on the forehead of a fifth-grade girl. Aware that the girl’s mother held an administrative role within the district, he specifically asked the student to withhold the incident from her.
Approximately one month later, in April 2023, Brooke was observed tripping students as they exited his classroom at Thompson Elementary. Around the same time, he also grasped and tugged on a student’s hair. During a follow-up discussion with the Thompson Elementary principal on April 17, he acknowledged the behaviors and committed to reinforcing professional boundaries in future interactions.
Staff-Level Misconduct
Beyond student-facing incidents, OSPI’s review flagged a notable lapse involving another district employee. On February 28, 2022, Brooke participated in a sexual encounter with a colleague on the grounds of Roy Elementary School. He was removed from classroom duties the same day. The Bethel School District issued a formal reprimand on May 17, 2022, citing the occurrence.
Later that spring, Brooke received formal notice that his contract would not be renewed for the 2023–24 school year. He formally stepped away from the district on May 10, 2023, with his departure taking effect June 23, 2023.
Conditions for Return
Brooke’s Washington Education Certificate remains under suspension for a minimum of 90 days, beginning on the order’s effective date. To regain full teaching privileges, he must first complete an OSPI-approved course titled *Maintaining Boundaries* and submit documentation verifying completion.
He must also file a revised application that includes a character and fitness assessment and undergo updated criminal background screenings—both state and federal—conducted through the Washington State Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.