Parents Defend Jim Walters After Indecent Conduct Citation

parents and friends of Jim Walters are still reeling from a lewd and indecent citation issued to the principal Friday afternoon.

District officials and parents are also questioning a KSDK report on Monday that said, among other details, that Walters "exposed and fondled himself." Those details are missing from the summons document, which is attached as a PDF to this article. 

The summons stated a St. Louis City park ranger “observed subject Walters grab his genitals…” 

“I feel that KSDK slandered Mr. Walters with their report as it did not match what the summons read,” Oakville resident Mike Baker said on Patch’s Facebook page. “Their rush to ‘air’ this story shows that they did not clarify the facts and reported what they knew would sell. His name should not have been used in their story or yours (Patch’s).”

Attempts to contact Walters have been unsuccessful.

On Tuesday, parents received an email from Mehlville Superintendent Eric Knost, saying the district would conduct an investigation after spring break, which ends March 26.

“…the principal will not return to Point Elementary unless and until the District determines that to do so is appropriate and safe for all students,” Knost wrote.

The superintendent told Patch on Monday that he had spoken with Walters, who told Knost the incident was “a misunderstanding.”

“Frankly, the damage has been done,” said Robyn Turner, whose fourth-graders attend Point. “My kids, along with God knows how many others, have seen the story and are very upset.” 

Joy Voss, an education professor at Saint Louis University, attended  with Walters. Voss said she has several former students working as teachers at Point Elementary.

“I have no idea about the incident, but I can tell you that his staff enjoys working with him,” she said. “He was active with the school, active with the parents and cares about kids learning.”

Walters, 49, has been the principal of Point Elementary School since 2007.

He and his wife, Terri, moved to Oakville in 1996 and have two kids, Abbi and Jacob, in district middle and elementary schools.

Voss said that Walters is an avid runner, and has been since high school. The incident reportedly occurred when Walters was running in Forest Park.

The school principal started teaching third and fourth grade at Gotsch Intermediate School in the Affton School District in 1994.

He began his career as an administrator for the Francis Howell School District when he became the assistant principal at John Weldon Elementary School.

Walters left Francis Howell to serve as the principal of , notes a 2007 story from the Suburban Journals.

He remained with Bayless from 2004 to 2007 before coming to Point Elementary as the principal.

Walters has two masters degrees in education administration and management from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Maryville University.

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