State Suspends Educator’s Teaching Certificate Over Alleged Explicit Computer Searches

In a Final Order issued on Thursday, the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction suspended the state teaching credentials of educator Mark Baer, following an interstate report regarding his alleged use of school equipment to access explicit materials.

According to the state’s disciplinary findings, the suspension in Washington stems from incidents during Baer’s out-of-state employment as a history teacher at Lakeside Junior High School in Idaho during the 2022-2023 school year.

The OSPI order states that in February 2023, the Benewah County Sheriff’s Office in Idaho was asked by the local school district to perform a forensic search of Baer’s district-issued computer.

This request came after a student reportedly saw an internet tab open to the website “OnlyFans” on the device, according to the document.

Additionally, the order notes that PWSD IT personnel informed law enforcement they had discovered multiple searches conducted by the educator for pornographic material.

While the forensic examination by authorities found no images involving minors, the state’s order indicates that investigators did locate a “large amount of pornographic material” on the school equipment, according to the order.

Based on these findings, the Idaho Professional Standards Commission issued a Final Order in December 2023, suspending Baer’s Idaho education certificate for a period of two years with reinstatement conditions.

Washington educational authorities were subsequently alerted to the Idaho incident via a report from the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification, an organization that helps facilitate the interstate sharing of educator disciplinary actions.

The report was received by the Washington Office of Professional Practices on December 16, 2024.

Acting as the administrator of state education regulations, OSPI moved to suspend Baer’s Washington certificate.

In the April 23, 2026 order, the state concluded there was “clear and convincing evidence” that Baer committed acts of “unprofessional conduct” pursuant to the Washington Administrative Code 181-87-060, which governs the misuse of school district computer equipment to access and view images of a sexual nature.

To reach its conclusion, the state noted it applied the standards outlined in WAC 181-86-080.

This code requires the state to weigh at least eleven factors when determining the appropriate level of educator discipline, including the seriousness of the act, proximity of time in which the acts occurred, indicators of a behavioral problem or lack of fitness, and any discipline imposed by other governmental entities.

OSPI officials concluded in the document that the suspension serves the interest of Washington State by deterring subsequent unprofessional conduct and “protecting the health, safety, and general welfare of students, colleagues, and other affected persons.”

According to the order, Baer’s credential will be suspended for at least 12 months.