Seattle-area principal removed from position after parents discover history of cocaine abuse

Parents started a petition calling on the district to remove Griffin from their school. Over 600 people signed it, demanding that the district remove Griffin after court documents were discovered by parents revealing she had made statements to police involving her and her husband regularly using cocaine while they were school principals.

In 2023, Michael and Meghan Griffin were both elementary school principals in the district. Meghan was the principal at Moorlands Elementary School and Michael was the principal at Sunrise Elementary.

According to police documents and video obtained by The Ari Hoffman Show on Talk Radio 570 KVI, on April 30, 2023, officers responded to a disturbance call at a grocery store in Redmond and found Michael “in a paranoid state likely under the influence of cocaine.” Michael had “dilated pupils,” as well as “visible white powder on his lips,” and was making “delusional statements.”

Police said Michael was convinced his wife was trying to communicate with him through written notes and attempted to give the responding officer two bags filled with documents and valuables to hold onto “because he could not keep anything in his house.” He told police that his wife was being “pimped," and pointed at “uninvolved people,” because he “believed his wife was in danger of possibly being trafficked.”

Responding officers stated, “Griffin identified himself and said he was the principal at Sunrise Elementary in the Northshore School District,” and said, “My wife is Megan Griffin, we go to Las Vegas all the time, someone got ahold of her and…their…it’s like a trafficking thing. She has something on her that they can see or like she is communicating with them. She has been writing me notes, you have to trust me.”

Michael pointed at other “uninvolved people” near the grocery store and said, “There’s a team of them, look.” telling police, “There’s more people in the parking lot watching my white car, I know I sound crazy, and irrational please just trust me.”

He also pointed to an Amazon truck claiming “they” were trying to get into his car. Michael also “took his pistol to QFC chambered and unsecured in his front sweatshirt pocket,” and “a loaded and chambered Glock-19 was removed from Griffin and entered into Redmond Police Evidence as safekeeping.”

Officers located Meghan inside the grocery store with her daughters. Meghan was “visibly upset and crying” and said she didn’t know where her 10-year-old son disappeared to after Michael told their son to run. The boy was later located across the street at a nearby business. She told officers that her husband was convinced she was having an affair with an old college friend, which she denied, claiming he was paranoid and that his behavior had been getting worse for a month. Michael was involuntarily taken to the hospital after the incident.

Michael’s brother came to the Redmond Police Department to turn over two firearms he said belonged to Michael because he was concerned about him having access to guns in his declining mental state.

The public school district put Michael on leave after the incident. Meghan filed an extreme protection order against her husband, Michael, in which she admitted the couple had been using recreational drugs, including cocaine, for the past year, while they were principals. She was placed on leave shortly thereafter. Both remained employed by the district. Michael, as a substitute teacher, and Meghan got a cushy administration job as the Assistant Director of the Teaching and Learning Division.

Meghan was recently assigned to Fernwood when parents realized who she was. On Wednesday, in response to the petition, the district superintendent Michael Tolley sent a letter to parents saying, “Due to the response from the Fernwood community and the potential impact and distraction this may cause to student learning, her two-week assignment as a substitute assistant principal concluded yesterday, February 25."

The superintendent added that, with time and demonstration of good work, Griffin could have future opportunities to contribute to the district. He claimed in the letter that “our educators, administrators, and support staff - are deeply committed to fostering a culture of integrity, leading by example, and prioritizing the well-being of our students. These values guide all of our decisions and actions as we work together to support student success. We also recognize that growth and the ability to learn from mistakes is a lifelong process—not only for our students but for adults as well. It has been brought to my attention that there is a petition circulating requesting the removal of Ms. Griffin as Fernwood’s substitute assistant principal.

"For the past year and a half, Ms. Griffin has taken on multiple roles in support of teaching and learning including temporary administrative positions. Throughout this time, she has demonstrated her dedication to students and has never posed a safety concern. In fact, schools and departments that she has supported have expressed their gratitude for her student-centered approach, kindness, and commitment. However, due to the response from the Fernwood community and the potential impact and distraction this may cause to student learning, her two-week assignment as a substitute assistant principal concluded yesterday, February 25. I remain hopeful that with time and continued demonstration of good work, Ms. Griffin will have future opportunities to contribute to our schools and support student growth. Lynn Olsen will be coming to Fernwood for the next few days to provide extra administrative support. She is a retired administrator and a former Fernwood educator.”

Parents celebrated on Change.org, posting an update that read, “Thanks to the overwhelming support from over 600 parents, the school district has officially removed Ms. Griffin from the assistant principal role at Fernwood Elementary. This is a powerful reminder that when we come together, we can make a difference for our children. Thank you to everyone who signed, shared, and advocated for transparency in school leadership!"