District 128 draws heat for handling of grooming accusations against former teacher

A lawsuit alleging a former special education teacher at Libertyville High School engaged in sexual grooming, assault and abuse has sparked criticism of how the school board and administrators handled the matter.

Several speakers during public comment during Monday night’s Libertyville-Vernon Hills Area High School District 128 board meeting said Parker Rohde’s actions were known to administrators yet he was allowed to keep his job and retire with a pension.

Speakers also contended the situation was kept hidden and demanded accountability.

Rohde, Libertyville High School and District 128 are named as defendants in the suit filed in January. Rohde started with the district in August 1997 and retired in March 2025.

The action was taken on behalf of Jane Doe, a 15-year-old junior with Down syndrome who met Rohde in the fall semester of 2024, when the alleged actions were said to have occurred.

Among the allegations are that Rohde exploited Doe’s disability and trust by coercing expressions of love and physical contact in exchange for grades or extra credit.

Also alleged is that despite Rohde’s “extensive history of misconduct” including disciplinary action for entering a student’s home and other actions, the district reassigned rather than fire him.

District 128 resident Laura Weber raised concerns about district procedures and responsibilities involving Title IX and equity at Libertyville High School. If the district was struggling with sports equity what would happen when a more serious student safety issue arose, she asked.

“Who is protecting the students?” she said. “As a parent with two children who will soon be entering Libertyville High School, my confidence has been shaken.”

The suit alleges in the 2024 fall semester, Rohde “began his campaign of grooming that would ultimately lead him to sexual conduct including acts of sexual assault and abuse of Jane Doe repeatedly, including on school premises while she was a minor, and in spite of the actual or constructive knowledge of various school staff members and administrators.”

School board members do not respond to public comments at board meetings. The district in a statement said it refrains from commenting on pending litigation.

In the statement, the district said it is aware of the lawsuit but because it contains claims related to a student and school personnel it can’t disclose details under federal and state law confidentiality requirements.

Among the allegations is, while on a voluntary leave of absence, Rohde left a voicemail for a co-worker instructing Jane Doe be given 50 points of extra credit because he had implemented a “new policy” where students who said “I love you” and allowed him to hug them were given extra credit.

In the same voicemail, the suit alleges, Rohde made disturbing and inappropriate statements linking his emotional closeness to students with green eyes to the “presence” of his deceased mother.

Despite that, the district did not report Rohde to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, law enforcement or notify affected families, the complaint alleges.

Among the allegations in the eight-count complaint are sexual assault and battery and infliction of emotional distress against Jane Doe as well as negligence on part of the school and district for failing to remove Rohde or warn or protect students.

Weber said how a teacher with a “documented history of concerning behavior, prior complaints and even an arrest record,” was allowed to remain employed and return to the classroom raises troubling questions.

The district said it “will share additional information if and when it becomes appropriate to do so.”

The complaint seeks more than $50,000 on each of eight counts plus legal fees.