The students’ allegations
Two former Syracuse High School students, identified in court as Jane Does 1 and 2, have sued the Davis School District, former principal Jed Johansen and other defendants. They allege that male classmates circulated nude and altered images of them through a private Snapchat group and a public Instagram account, and that school officials did not adequately respond to their reports. Utah News Dispatch reports that the alleged conduct took place during the 2023–2024 school year.
The plaintiffs say the harassment affected their grades, attendance and mental health. KSL reports that the suit seeks damages, a declaration that the district violated Title IX and the 14th Amendment, and court-ordered changes to district training and policies. The case, LNU 1 et al. v. Davis School District et al., is listed by PACER Monitor; KSL also reports that the plaintiffs asked to proceed under pseudonyms.
The district’s response
The district disputes the allegations. In a statement reported by KSL and Utah News Dispatch, Davis School District said it rejects the claims and maintains that the student and employee matters involved separate processes.
Separate state action against Johansen
The student case follows a separate state licensing proceeding. As reported by The Salt Lake Tribune, Utah’s Professional Practices Advisory Commission suspended Johansen’s teaching license for four years, barring him from working in Utah education until 2029. The Tribune’s account of state records says investigators found relationships with two school employees: one that began in 2019 and another that began in fall 2022, with the relationships overlapping.
The Tribune also reported that teen-center director Jenny Hadley complained of sexual harassment in spring 2024 and left the district in November. Later that year, the district opened a Title IX inquiry into allegations involving Johansen and the two employees. According to records described by the Tribune, Johansen asked whether resigning would end the inquiry, and the Title IX coordinator indicated it would. Human resources director Suzi Jensen objected to ending the investigation and later reported the allegations to UPPAC after Johansen resigned in January 2025. Jensen told the commission that Johansen had acknowledged inappropriate conduct.
