Frank No Runner became the superintendent of St. Stephens Indians School in 2015 but has been removed from office this week. This action was a result of the release of a Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) report on the school. Per the reports suggestion two principles, and the whole school board were also relieved of duty.
The report found evidence of sexual assault against employees and students, misuse of school funds, nepotism, and extremely toxic work environment by No Runner.
Another witness whose identity is redacted in the report said that No Runner and the K-8 principal Greg Juneau “attempted to show her and her boyfriend nude pictures of girls, made inappropriate sexual innuendoes directed at her.”
The report states, “Throughout the investigation multiple witnesses testified they had heard rumors of No Runner soliciting underage girls for nude photographs and sex.”
The BIA investigation confirmed multiple accounts of bullying employees and engagement in consumption of alcohol on school premises during school functions and training.
Matt Mortimore, who was the high school principal, is accused in the report of being at a party with an under age former student. The party was held at No Runner’s house.
The Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone Business Council requested the BIA to conduct an impartial investigation into the allegations on No Runner and other St. Stephens Indian School staff. Federal investigators March 29 to April 1 were on the Wind River Reservation gathering documentation and in person interviews. Federal investigators were able to secure statements of a couple dozen witnesses.
Northern Arapaho Chairman Jordan Dresser said in a press release, “This is truly a sad day, and I regret that we as tribal leaders had no choice but to ensure a safe and orderly learning environment at St. Stephens Indian School by removing these individuals from the roles in which they had been entrusted.”
The Wind River Inter-Tribal Council voted to remove the administrators, and the school is now under direct BIE supervision.
