State Suspends Former Tumwater Teacher's Certificate After Years of Intoxication Concerns

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction has suspended the education certificate of a former Tumwater fourth grade teacher who registered a .185 blood-alcohol reading after school administrators took him to a medical facility on a Monday morning in April 2025.

Sean Colgan, who taught at Peter G. Schmidt Elementary School, signed an Agreed Order of Suspension with OSPI's Office of Professional Practices dated July 20, 2026.

Under the order, Colgan stipulated that he engaged in unprofessional conduct under Washington Administrative Code 181-87-055, and his certificate is suspended for not less than one year.

Colgan was issued Washington Education Certificate No. 343574J on February 26, 1996.

According to the order, he was employed by the Tumwater School District as a fourth grade classroom teacher at Peter G. Schmidt Elementary from at least the 2012-13 school year through the 2024-25 school year.

The Office of Professional Practices opened its case after receiving complaints from Tumwater Superintendent Kevin Bogatin on October 29, 2024, and April 29, 2025, alleging that Colgan had been under the influence of intoxicants on school premises.

The order's Findings of Fact, which Colgan stipulated to, describe concerns spanning more than a decade.

On November 29, 2012, a staff member at Peter G. Schmidt Elementary emailed school administration expressing concern that Colgan had been under the influence of intoxicants at school two days earlier.

In February 2023, school staff submitted comments to the district expressing concern that Colgan had been under the influence of intoxicants on school grounds on February 9 of that year.

That same month, Colgan met with then-Interim Superintendent Dr. Carole Meyer to discuss the intoxication concern, his classroom performance, and what the order describes as inappropriate texts to his building principal.

Colgan initially agreed to an alcohol and substance use evaluation through the district's Employee Assistance Program, according to the findings, but at a follow-up meeting was unwilling to participate in a voluntary substance abuse assessment.

He was then mandated to contact the district's EAP program, and received a letter of expectation requiring him to participate in the screening or assessment process through the EAP and to remain drug and alcohol free while on campus and at school-related events.

In March 2023, the district received confirmation through the EAP that Colgan had completed the referral program and was recommended to enroll in a treatment program.

The following month, he received a Letter of Verbal Warning for non-compliance with the EAP drug and alcohol assessment.

On October 11, 2024, according to the findings, Colgan appeared at the high school football stadium to assist with concession sales while under the influence of alcohol or an intoxicating substance.

At a meeting with district administrators six days later, Colgan stated he had consumed two glasses of wine earlier that evening before arriving at the stadium.

He was directed not to consume alcohol or be under its influence before coming to work or attending a work event.

On November 27, 2024, Colgan signed a Last Chance Agreement with the district.

Less than five months later, on April 21, 2025, Colgan was observed showing indicia of intoxication at school. Administrators contacted him at 8:30 a.m. and took him to a medical facility for a breath test.

At the clinic, the findings state, Colgan initially refused to provide a breath sample but ultimately relented. At 10:11 a.m., the test returned a blood-alcohol content of .185.

Colgan submitted his resignation from the district the next day. On April 28, 2025, he entered an in-patient substance treatment facility, and was discharged on May 26, 2025. He participated in an interview with the Office of Professional Practices that June.

In its Conclusions of Law, OSPI determined that Colgan committed unprofessional conduct under WAC 181-87-055 by being under the influence of alcohol at school or at school-sponsored events after his employer informed him of a concern that substance use was affecting his performance and recommended he seek treatment.

The order separately concludes there is clear and convincing evidence that Colgan committed acts of unprofessional conduct pursuant to WAC 181-86-170.

Colgan may not request reinstatement of his certificate for at least one year from the effective date of the order.

Reinstatement will require him to complete an in-person stress management course preapproved by OSPI, and to successfully complete any conditions imposed by Thurston County District Court as a result of his prosecution for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants.

He must also submit a new application with a Character and Fitness Supplement, complete fingerprint-based criminal background checks through both the FBI and the Washington State Patrol, and the background check must return no disqualifying criminal convictions occurring after the date of issuance of a final order of suspension.

Colgan must assume all costs of complying with the order.