Teacher resigns in settlement with school district

Guillermo Guzman, who served as a Spanish teacher at Lake Roosevelt High School until April, 2013, was given a final separation payment by school board action last week.

Guzman was arrested in 2013 by the Border Patrol and Coulee Dam police on a variety of allegations, including the use of someone else’s Social Security Number, not being a citizen and working without a valid work permit. Guzman holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Washington.

Guzman had been on paid administrative leave since he was arrested, and agreed to the final settlement through his attorney last week. The settlement, for $20,000, was approved by the school district’s attorney and board action. Guzman will be responsible for any tax obligations, according to the agreement, and has submitted his letter of resignation.

At the time of Guzman’s arrest, school Superintendent Dennis Carlson said that the Spanish teacher had passed the Washington State Patrol’s background check and the FBI’s fingerprint test at the time of his hiring.

Guzman had taught at Lake Roosevelt since 2008.

As part of the agreement, the school district has advised the Okanogan County Prosecutor’s Office that it has no interest in the “continued prosecution of Guillermo Guzman and no desire to participate in the prosecution of Mr.Guzman.”