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Lafayette’s Stanley Middle School is under new permanent leadership this academic year following the departure of its prior principal in the wake of an investigation by the district into allegations that as an administrator in Danville she mishandled reports and concerns about a teacher who was ultimately charged with multiple counts of lewd acts against minors.
Nicole “Nikki” Chaplan’s impending exit from Lafayette School District was announced at the end of March, more than two months after she was placed on leave by the superintendent less than a year onto the job – although her LinkedIn profile states her tenure at the district did not technically end until the 2022-23 school year finished in June.
“In January, I wrote to the community that I had made the difficult decision to look further into questions about the handling of allegations against a San Ramon Valley teacher,” Lafayette Superintendent Brent Stephens wrote in an announcement to families on March 31. “These allegations had been reported on in local newspapers and raised questions about the role of Stanley Principal Nikki Chaplan prior to her employment in Lafayette.”
The teacher referenced by Stephens was now-former San Ramon Valley High School biology teacher Nicholas Moseby, also a private cheer coach in the area, who was arrested in September 2022 on multiple counts of lewd conduct involving minors. Moseby, who has pleaded not guilty, was released on bail late last December, and currently has a felony jury trial scheduled for Nov. 6.
While Chaplan was already in the principal post at Lafayette’s Stanley Middle School before Moseby’s arrest last year, she was a figure in further investigations into the case and why earlier complaints from San Ramon Valley students about Moseby failed to yield any disciplinary action, with Moseby remaining employed as a teacher at the San Ramon Valley Unified School District until his arrest.
In her most recent role at SRVUSD, as an assistant principal at San Ramon Valley High, Chaplan was among the administrators responsible for responding to complaints against Moseby from students. Public records also revealed Moseby’s original job application for SRVUSD listed Chaplan as a reference.
Attempts to contact Chaplan in recent weeks have been unsuccessful. She is not facing criminal charges in connection to the Moseby case, nor has she been linked publicly as the subject of any criminal investigation. Her LinkedIn says she now works outside of education, with a supply chain logistics company in the Bay Area.
Chaplan, who started as Stanley principal in June 2022, was placed on leave amidst an independent investigation by Lafayette in January.
“This is a decision I do not take lightly, and I am committed both to protecting our students’ wellbeing and to treating all our employees with fairness and respect,” Stephens wrote on Jan. 28.
In his later email announcing Chaplan’s departure, Stephens did not provide details into the finding of that investigation, but he made it clear that Chaplan would not be returning to Stanley Middle School.
“We know now that Ms. Chaplan won’t return to Stanley in the 23-24 school year, and that she won’t return to her role for the remainder of the current school year,” Stephens said on March 31.
As of the current school year, Brian Mangold — who served as interim principal at Stanley in Chaplan’s absence during the last school year — has been appointed to lead the school on a permanent basis, Stephens told DanvilleSanRamon.
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The actions (or lack thereof) taken by SRVUSD in the face of serious allegations are deeply concerning and highlight potential Title IX implications. Lafayette Superintendent Brent Stephens stands as a beacon of integrity, in stark contrast to the actions observed within the SRVUSD district office. The allegations suggest that Nikki Chaplan’s involvement in purported cover-ups, possibly influenced by personal ambitions in the competitive cheer arena, should have resulted in disciplinary actions. Instead, there are troubling indications that SRVUSD may have prioritized retaining staff diversity over the safety and wellbeing of its students.
Title IX ensures equal educational opportunities by protecting students from sexual harassment and assault. If Moseby is found guilty, it’s inevitable that SRVUSD, and even specific administrators, may face significant Title IX repercussions. The broader implications for the SRVUSD community cannot be understated. It’s alarming that the district seems to prioritize social issues over core educational mandates, a stance driven by the current SRVUSD superintendent. As a result, the district’s future appears uncertain, and its leadership questionable.
In a twist of irony, the Trustees are reportedly set to reward the SRVUSD Superintendent with a raise and contract extension. This move raises eyebrows and prompts one to wonder if they’re truly oblivious to the potential impending Title IX lawsuit. Many speculate that the superintendent might opt for a swift exit once the lawsuit surfaces. One must question the foresight and decision-making of the SRVUSD Trustees in this crucial juncture.
Remarkably, had Moseby been a student at San Ramon Valley High School instead of a teacher there, he could have gotten his kicks by “identifying” as female and walking into the girls’ locker room while they were changing.
If needed, his excuse could have been that he wanted to join the cheer team — or if already a member himself, that he was seeking new members. And he could have worn sunglasses to hide the precise direction of his gaze.
That sort of abuse actually occurred in an SRV High girls’ locker room ( https://www.danvillesanramon.com/blogs/p/2022/09/17/comfort-communication—-and-the-lack-of-both ).
But the ADULT teacher Moseby was arrested “on multiple counts of lewd conduct involving minors,” as reported above and in this publication last year ( https://danvillesanramon.com/news/2022/09/16/san-ramon-valley-teacher-cheer-coach-charged-with-sexual-misconduct-against-minor ).
He had made girls at SRV High uncomfortable with his comments, so SRVUSD shipped him off to Diablo Vista MIDDLE School, where he apparently committed more serious offenses, involving younger girls there.
One of the counts lodged against Moseby was his alleged showing of pornography to a minor. His mistake was not having gotten himself appointed as a high school librarian, perhaps after being trained and certified by the anything-goes American Library Association.
Then he could have FEATURED pornographic material during “Banned Books Week” and at other times — material which if a stranger were caught handing it to a kid in a park would result in criminal prosecution.
But were he a school librarian in one of SRVUSD’s high schools, he would be celebrated by District leaders as an opponent of censorship — and by the East Bay Times as a heroic defender of “diverse and inclusive literature in school libraries, with supporters arguing that exposure to diverse books can promote empathy and understanding,” even as the Times refused hypocritically to show readers what was involved.
How many more complaints has the SRVUSD superintendent covered up in a similar fashion to this Moseby incident? It’s a valid question in light of this obvious coverup and potential Title IX violation.
Anyone that actually cared about the wellbeing of children would have immediately had counselors try and identify additional victims to ensure care and treatment can be provided. But, this superintendent has shown now on numerous occasions that the safety of girls is far less of a concern to SRVUSD administrators than passing online political purity tests and looking good in the wokest corners of twitter.
SRVUSD Supt. Malloy’s “Cal High Racist Incident 5.23.22” District-wide post of last year attempted to shift blame to Cal High Stunt-Team members for a falsified social media post that was evidently initiated instead by a disgruntled mother whose daughter was the only one of 7 black girls who did NOT make the team in try-outs.
Malloy falsely characterized the Cheer/Stunt-Team members as having had “racist impact” with a “hateful and hurtful image,” which in fact had been created in the falsely framed social media post.
Malloy’s own false and cynically prejudicial defamation of Cheer-Stunt team girls led to their being ostracized, vilified, jeered, pushed, and threatened.
Malloy said on June 14, 2022 that he and his staff already knew all that team parents and members revealed at a June 7 Board meeting because they’d spoken to those “closest to the team.”
But parents and team members — i.e., those ACTUALLY closest to the team — said he was lying, since he hadn’t spoken to THEM. See https://www.danvillesanramon.com/news/2022/06/17/cal-high-principal-keefer-resigns-position-to-return-to-teaching .
Malloy had said in his May 23rd 2022 communication that he and his crew implemented their “Response to Discrimination and Hate process.” The related process “Handbook” requires creating a “fact sheet about the incident….” We’re still waiting. “Don’t let misinformation take root in the school or community,” it says.
It goes on to say that “Each new communication…” should be used to “correct information and reiterate facts.” Oh, and “Do not jump to conclusions. If you are hasty, you may spread misinformation yourself.”
So, what’s a left-wing school board to do when its superintendent so visibly and audibly violates his own protocols, then later compounds District problems with approval of pornographic high school library books and hiding evenTK-5 “gender identity” and “sexual orientation” changes from parents? Why, extend his lucrative contract, of course!
I live in Lafayette. Several of us raised questions about Chaplan with Dr. Stephens as there had been an arrest for sexual misconduct at the school a number of years ago.
He’s to be commended and Stanley’s in good hands with the new principal.
I’m a retired teacher and follow educational news across CCCounty and the state.
I agree with Kate Ruby that Lafayette Elementary (LES) Superintendent Stephens took the correct action to replace Chaplain. To have ignored her actions in this despicable, heinous case would have ended his career.
As a former school superintendent of San Francisco, Berkeley and now LES Stephens fails to respect the 14th Amendment rights of parents to raise their children with their values.
Stephens supports the state as the true parent.
His radical policies align with the radical Sacramento politicians and teachers unions who use our tax funds to deny the authority of parents, view minors as sexual actors and legalize feelings over true science.
In Sept. of 2021 Stephens, the Burton Valley principal and the PTA publicized a “Hispanic heritage Drag Queen” story hour for kids ages 3-9. Rainbow Center David Christian danced as Bella in wigs, faux breasts and fake eyelashes at the Lafayette Library. Trusting children and woke parents celebrated biological confusion promoted by LES leaders and Stephens embrace of “queer ideology.”
Learning to read is about the ABC’s and phonics. Sexual orientation and gender identity are about teaching cultural Marxism and perversion. These are not school issues.
Stephens believes minors may choose their own sexual identities, cats are included, by studying sexual behaviors and other group identities found in QueerInTheWorld.org representing the +. Please visit.
Stephens supports hiding public info from parents if kids change names, pronouns, identity or are confused. LES parents can’t be trusted knowing but the whole school population can.
At Stanley Middle School Stephens only allowed students and staff to view the Banned Books library display. Why were parents excluded?
LES kids, families and staff are entangled in a dark social experiment. Stephens policies harm kids.
True integrity protects families rights.
PROTECT ALL KIDS!