JUSTIN HOWARD QUERY LOSES TEACHING LICENSE IN TWO STATES DUE TO SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS
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Justin Query (who often goes by his full name, Justin Howard Query), who taught in Iowa and Illinois, has lost his ability to teach in both states due to allegations of sexual misconduct brought forward by two former students.
The two victims, each from a different state, came forward with allegations of sexual misconduct and grooming in 2022. Each victim worked with police and state boards to supply extensive evidence of these allegations.
Justin Query denied these allegations, but when faced with the chance to defend himself at a hearing, he signed a 12-year suspension of his Iowa teaching license instead. He later again signed away his right to a formal hearing with the Iowa board and agreed to have his Iowa license permanently revoked. Again, he agreed to surrender his teaching license permanently in Illinois instead of attending a hearing to defend himself.
As for his job of 15+ years at Oswego East High, he resigned in light of the accusations.
IOWA
On June 4, 2024, Justin Query filed a surrender of practitioner license and waiver of formal hearing form to the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners and notified the board of his intent to accept a permanent revocation of his practitioner’s license. The board acknowledged the voluntary surrender and PERMANENTLY REVOKED his practitioner license in Iowa with no possibility of reinstatement. To read the surrender of practitioner license and waiver of formal hearing form, click button below.
JUNE 4, 2024
Iowa Board of Educational Examiners Ruling
The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners opened an investigation into Justin Howard Query after a former student in Iowa filled a report with allegations of grooming and sexual misconduct with a minor. After a lengthy investigation, they found probable cause to support six counts of misconduct.
The six counts of misconduct the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners found probable cause for are as follows:
Sexual involvement or indecent contact with a student, in violation of 282 Iowa Administrative Code rule 25.3(1)(C).
Sexual exploitation of a minor, in violation of 282 Iowa Administrative Code rule 25.3(1)(d).
Committing or soliciting any sexual or otherwise indecent act with a student or any minor in violation of 282 Iowa Administrative Code rule 25.3(1)(e)(3).
Soliciting, encouraging, or consummating a romantic or otherwise inappropriate relationship with a student in violation of 282 Iowa Administrative Code rule 25.3(1)(e)(4).
Failing to make a reasonable effort to protect the health and safety of the student, in violation of 282 Iowa Administrative Code rule 25.3(6)(c)
Conducting professional business in such a way that the practitioner repeatedly exposes students to unnecessary embarrassment or disparagement, in violation of 282 Iowa Administrative Code rule 25.3(6)(D).
Illinois
Illinois State Board of Education Investigation
The Illinois State Board of Education opened an investigation into Justin Howard Query in 2022 after a former student in Illinois filled a report with allegations of grooming and sexual misconduct with a minor. After a lengthy investigation, they found probable cause to permanently revoke his teaching license in IL, they gave Justin a choice to surrender his license voluntarily and Justin Query surrendered his Illinois teaching license in September of 2023. Later that same month, he resigned from his teaching position of 15+ years at Oswego East High School, where he had been on paid administrative leave for a year due to this investigation.
Oswego East High Lawsuit
In February, Diana Mondragon and her attorneys filed a federal lawsuit against Oswego School District and Oswego School Board along with former Oswego East teacher Justin Query, former Oswego East assistant principal James Seput, Oswego East teacher Stephanie Scapino, Oswego East social worker Dina Schnable and Lynn Demke, a security dean’s assistant at Oswego East.
As part of the settlement agreement, Mondragon has dropped her lawsuit against the Oswego School District and Oswego School Board along with defendants Seput, Scapino, Schnable and Demke. The status of her lawsuit against Query is not known since it appears that his name has been redacted from the settlement agreement.
- Eric Schelkopf
Contact
If you were victimized or witnessed misconduct by this man and wish to seek support, please get in touch.