We are asking for support in the termination of a teacher at East Valley Middle School, Erik Pritchard, in regards to the inappropriate and sexual behavior that occurred in his classroom and is still ongoing. This petition is to get Mr. Pritchard removed from the school with possible legal action, and hold staff accountable for having numerous chances to stop this. Signing this shows your support of his removal and supporting the countless students who have been victims of him. If you or your child is a victim of this teacher, please share your story! Around 11 years ago, I had Erik Pritchard as a teacher at East Valley Middle School in East Helena, MT. It was well-known among students that you had to be cautious around him because of his unsettling behavior. He made ONLY the girls in his class take videos doing jumping jacks and then slow them down. He even made inappropriate comments to a friend of mine about how her breasts had gotten bigger over the summer. My friends and I reported him multiple times to the school principal, yet nothing was ever done about it. For over a decade there have been countless accusations made against Mr. Pritchard and I'm tired of seeing more kids being victimized by him. I’m sick of hearing about children crying or seeking therapy because of him. 

It has come to my attention through multiple posts online, especially from Nikki Rogers, that his inappropriate and sexual behavior toward children isn't an isolated incident but has spanned over the years. Such behavior is not acceptable in any setting, let alone in an educational environment where the safety and well-being of the children should be the top priority.

Erik Pritchard's conduct not only violates the ethical standards expected of educators but also endangers the students he is supposed to protect and guide.Allowing him to continue teaching compromises the integrity of the educational system and puts more children at risk of suffering inappropriate behavior. Immediate action needs to be taken to ensure that Mr. Pritchard is held accountable for his actions and that he is no longer in a position where he can cause harm. The administration and the school board need to step up and prioritize the voices of the students and the community over protecting a teacher who has repeatedly shown himself to be unfit for his position.

We demand that the East Helena School District conduct a thorough investigation into these claims and take the necessary steps to terminate Erik Pritchard's employment at East Valley Middle School. This action will not only serve justice to the affected students but also restore trust in the school's ability to safeguard its student body.

Please join me in calling for this essential change by signing this petition and sharing your story. Share this petition and others story’s, spread the word. Reach out to the school and let them know this behavior will no longer be tolerated. The more we speak up increases the chance they will finally do something. Together, we can stand up against misconduct and ensure a safe and respectful learning environment for all students at East Valley Middle School. Resources to Contact the School:   East Helena Public Schools District Office: (406)227-7700 Superintendent - Dan Rispens drispens@ehps.k12.mt.us  District Secretary - Jen Cordell jcordell@ehps.k12.mt.us   Link: https://www.ehpsmt.gov/central-office/contact-us    East Valley Middle School : (406)227-7740  Principal - Lynsi Morris lmorris@ehps.k12.mt.us  Vice Principal - Michael Kemper mkemper@ehps.k12.mt.us  Secretary - Jennifer Hines jhines@ehps.k12.mt.us  Link: https://evms.ehpsmt.gov/about-evms/contact-us    School Board Members: Chairman: Scott Walter swalter@ehps.k12.mt.us  Vice Chairman: Tyrel Murfitt tmurfitt@ehps.k12.mt.us  Stact Baird sbaird@ehps.k12.mt.us  Martin Balukas mbalukas@ehps.k12.mt.us  Mark Diehl mdiehl@ehps.k12.mt.us  Tiffany Richardson trichardson@ehps.k12.mt.us  Tristan Ulmer tulmer@ehps.k12.mt.us  Link: https://www.ehpsmt.gov/school-board/board-members  School Board Meetings Information: https://www.ehpsmt.gov/school-board/board-meetings/east-helena-public-school-board-of-trustees   EVMS School Repp - Trish Klock tklock12@gmail.com  EVMS School Repp - Amanie McDaniels banda101309@gmail.com  Link: https://www.ehpsmt.gov/community/parent-teacher-organization/pto-board-members