LONGVIEW, Wash – A western Washington school superintendent charged with obstructing a sexual assault investigation also worked in two Spokane County school districts.
Longview Police arrested Karen Cloninger Thursday as part of an ongoing investigation involving sexual assaults at Mark Morris High School.
Two students have been arrested, accused of sexually assaulting fellow students in the varsity basketball locker room.
Cloninger is charged with tampering with a witness, failure to report and obstructing a law enforcement investigation.
Before moving to the Longview School District in 2024, Cloninger was the assistant superintendent of the East Valley School District in Spokane County. Prior to that, she worked for Spokane Public Schools as a teacher, principal assistant, principal and school director.
Police say high school staff and Longview School District personnel were made aware of sexual misconduct allegations as early as late January. Police say, “Superintendent Karen Cloninger was made aware of details involving multiple students, including allegations that one student was forcibly dragged into the Mark Morris High School varsity team room, pinned to the ground, and partially disrobed.”
“The probable cause statement further alleges Longview Police Department leadership directly contacted Cloninger on Feb. 5, 2026, after reports began circulating on social media and asked whether law enforcement assistance was needed,” police said in a news release. “Detectives allege law enforcement was informed the matter had been investigated by the Longview School District and handled internally.”
Police say school district employees raised concerns about the legal requirements to report sexual misconduct, but police say “investigators developed information alleging employees were directed by Cloninger to handle the matter internally and discourage further discussion regarding the incident.”
Investigators previously seized Cloninger’s electronic devices as part of the investgiation.
Cloninger faced a judge Friday, who set her bond at $5,000.
She was ordered not to have contact with any Longview students or witnesses and will be back in court to enter a plea in early June.
She’s on leave from the school district pending the outcome of the investigation.
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