A former first-grade instructor with Tacoma Public Schools has received a formal suspension of her teaching credentials after being found in possession of and using marijuana at an elementary school site.
According to a recent disciplinary ruling from the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Stacy Kerrigan—whose state teaching license has been active since 2010—was placed on leave for at least one month following an incident in late 2024.
Marijuana Use on School Property
Documents from OSPI indicate Kerrigan taught at Manitou Park Elementary during the 2024–2025 academic year. On September 23, 2024, she was observed with and later used a marijuana or marijuana-derived product while on campus.
District officials responded promptly: Kerrigan was placed on administrative duty the same day the conduct occurred. Tacoma Public Schools escalated the matter by issuing a Notice of Probable Cause to Terminate Employment on October 17, 2024.
Though Kerrigan appealed the district’s intended termination, Superintendent Joshua Garcia submitted a formal complaint to OSPI on November 25, 2024, outlining concerns about her on-campus consumption.
Before the district finalized her employment status, Kerrigan chose to resign. Her last day of active service was April 4, 2025, with her official separation taking effect on August 31, 2025.
Deliberate State Review and Final Penalty
Kerrigan met with staff from the state’s Office of Professional Practices in early May 2025 to discuss the incident. Despite concluding her interview within months of the event, OSPI took more than a year to issue its final order—June 24, 2026—marking over two years from the original incident.
State investigators determined there was “clear and convincing evidence” Kerrigan’s conduct qualified as unprofessional under state standards. The order emphasized that her actions posed a risk to student well-being and safety, as well as to the broader school community.
As part of the agreed resolution, Kerrigan surrendered her Washington Education Certificate for a minimum 30-day suspension. She also voluntarily waived her right to contest the state’s findings.