OSWEGO, Ill. — Four former students of Oswego High School have filed a lawsuit alleging years of grooming and sexual misconduct by a former teacher and coach.
The lawsuit was filed against Oswego Community Unit School District 308 on behalf of Kala Sundstorm, Ann Marie Fish, Natalie Grimm and Jillian Lake. The women allege they were subjected to grooming, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct by former teacher and coach Sean Staffeldt while they were minors.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs claim district officials were aware of concerns about Staffeldt’s conduct but failed to intervene or adequately protect students, even after complaints were reportedly filed by staff and students.
“This case is not just about the actions of this one individual,” attorney Larry Disparti of Disparti Law Group said during a news conference. “Our lawsuit details repeated warnings, documented concerns, as well as prior written discipline. Yet, the abuse continued.”
Attorneys representing the plaintiffs said they are not aware of any criminal investigation stemming from the allegations and claim Staffeldt remains licensed to teach in Illinois.
The defendant was placed on administrative leave in 2020 and later resigned following a formal investigation by the district.
One of the plaintiffs, Jillian Lake, said the group hopes their lawsuit encourages other potential victims to come forward and pushes school districts to adopt stronger trauma-informed policies to better protect students.
In a statement to WGN News, District 308 said it has not yet been formally served with the lawsuit and will provide further comment after reviewing the official documentation if served.