A former Sutherlin Middle School teacher and coach has filed a lawsuit against the Sutherlin School District and two of its officials, alleging that he was subjected to sexual harassment, retaliation, religious discrimination, and coercion that led to his resignation.
The plaintiff, Kyle Crane, filed the lawsuit in Douglas County Circuit Court on September 23, 2025, seeking $809,000 in damages and requesting that the court void his separation agreement, which he claims was signed under duress and without the required approval from the school board.
Named as defendants are Superintendent Terry Prestianni, former Sutherlin Middle School Principal Mike Narkiewicz, and the Sutherlin School District.
Crane started working for the district in 2018 as a physical education teacher and coach.
According to the lawsuit, his troubles started after a series of inappropriate incidents involving Narkiewicz, who allegedly engaged in repeated acts of sexual misconduct and harassment.
The complaint outlines two disturbing episodes. On September 29, 2023, while attending an Oregon State University football game, Narkiewicz allegedly exposed himself and urinated in Crane’s presence.
Then, on March 16, 2024, during a trip to the Moda Center in Portland, the principal again exposed himself in a parking garage, reportedly telling Crane, “Look at my big d…” as he urinated.
In addition to these incidents, Narkiewicz allegedly sent Crane sexually explicit text messages and made repeated comments about his own genitalia and the bodies of female staff members.
He also purportedly pressured Crane to drink and drive, boasted of having a “100% fire rate” in terminating employees, and even shared names of staff members he planned to dismiss.
Following the alleged incident at the Moda Center, the lawsuit states that Narkiewicz used school surveillance cameras to monitor Crane’s activities in the gym in an effort to gather evidence against him and dissuade him from reporting the harassment.
The suit also details an April 22, 2024, meeting between Crane and Superintendent Prestianni, in which Crane says he was interrogated about hugging a female colleague after her father’s death.
According to the court documents, Prestianni told Crane,
“I think it’s wrong that a married woman would hug a man, what would your spouse think?”
Terry Prestianni
During the meeting, the superintendent allegedly accused Crane of inappropriate sexual conduct in the gym’s balcony and equipment room, citing surveillance footage.
However, the lawsuit claims that the video showed Crane alone with a female co-worker in an area not fully visible to the cameras.
Crane reportedly told Prestianni that he and his colleague had been praying together, as she was struggling with personal issues.
“Prestianni mocked Plaintiff’s religious practice of morning peayer, saying it was inappropriate,” the lawsuit states, alleging that Crane was then threatened with reassignment because of his religious activities and friendship with the colleague.
Crane says he left the meeting feeling “embarrassed, humiliated, and violated.”
Two days later, on April 24, 2024, Crane emailed school administrators expressing concerns about safety and security on campus.
The following day, he was placed on administrative leave, which he claims was a form of retaliation for speaking up.
On May 2, 2024, district officials sent Crane a resignation agreement, offering him $43,000 if he resigned by the next day, or he would face termination.
Crane requested more time to consult an attorney, but the district refused, he claims.
On May 3, he signed the agreement in a McDonald’s parking lot, allegedly under extreme pressure and emotional distress.
Within days, Crane says he attempted to rescind the agreement and return the payment, but district attorneys informed him that doing so would not void the contract.
He later sought medical treatment for anxiety and stress, citing the “coercion” and “public humiliation” he endured.
The suit claims that Crane suffered lost wages, reputational harm, and emotional distress as a result.
The allegations in Crane’s lawsuit mirror those in a separate case filed in June 2024 by former Sutherlin Middle School teacher Brooke Deaton, who also named Narkiewicz, Prestianni, and the district as defendants.
Deaton’s suit alleges wrongful termination, whistleblower retaliation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, seeking $2.5 million in damages.
School district officials have declined to comment on either case, citing pending litigation.
Superintendent Prestianni stated only that the district “appreciates the opportunity to respond but cannot comment on ongoing legal matters.”
Narkiewicz, who has since left his position at Sutherlin Middle School, now works as a community standards coordinator at Umpqua Community College.
He did not respond to media requests for comment.
