Skip to content
Photo: San Ramon Valley Unified School District (SRVUSD) headquarters; via Wikipedia.
San Ramon Valley Unified School District (SRVUSD) agreed to pay nearly $7 million to settle a lawsuit filed by two former students who allege they were sexually abused as minors by a high school theater teacher on campus, on school trips, and in his private apartment, Holly McDede of KQED reported yesterday.
The lawsuit centers on former San Ramon Valley High School educator Ryan Weible, who plaintiffs say groomed and abused them over several years. According to the complaint, the first plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe, was allegedly groomed by Weible beginning in the 2009–10 school year. The abuse escalated the following year, including an incident in which she says she had to flee campus after Weible hid her in a closet when police arrived in response to a tripped alarm.
Despite the police response and evidence later found by the school — including used condoms in the theater room — Weible was reprimanded but allowed to continue working. School officials accepted Weible’s explanation that the condoms were used to protect wireless microphones from moisture. He resigned in 2012, but as part of a separation agreement, SRVUSD promised not to disclose negative information about him to future employers.
One of the plaintiffs told KQED that no one from the school ever approached her to ask what happened, even after the police response. “They never talked to me about it. They never talked to me about him at all,” she said.
A second victim came forward after the lawsuit was filed in February 2024, alleging abuse began in 2011 when she was a student at San Ramon Valley High School. She claims Weible told her he loved her and wanted to marry her. Weible, through his attorney, denies all allegations.
According to court records and investigative reporting, the school district did not notify the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing at the time of Weible’s resignation. It wasn’t until more than a decade later — in December 2024, after the civil suit was filed — that SRVUSD finally reported him to the state licensing agency.
A plaintiff’s attorney involved in the case criticized the district’s handling of Weible’s departure. “Who does that protect? It doesn’t protect the students. It protects the district and it protects him,” the attorney said.
District Superintendent CJ Cammack issued a written statement acknowledging that the allegations are disturbing but insisted that they do not reflect the quality or commitment of current SRVUSD staff. He stated that hiring and background check procedures have been significantly updated in recent years.
But Jane Doe said the experience of watching the district’s slow and limited response to her allegations has left her disillusioned. “They could be so blasé with me and everything that happened to me, with all the red flags they had,” she said. “We can’t let this slide.”
Need A Skilled Sexual Abuse Attorney in California?
If you or someone you love was sexually abused in a California school, church, or institution, you may be entitled to legal action. Learn more and explore your options with our California Sexual Abuse Attorney Guide.
You can also see if your case qualifies for possible compensation. Fill out the brief, confidential form below.
