Folsom Cordova School District fires long-time employee for alleged harassment of students
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Folsom Cordova school district voted to terminate Conrade Mayer for misconduct.
- District reports cite Mayer’s repeated sexual harassment of students from 2022-2024.
- Students’ testimony influenced decision; community remains sharply divided on issue.
The Folsom Cordova Unified School District rejected the reinstatement of a former Cordova High School campus monitor who was recommended for termination after a district investigation sustained several sexual harassment complaints from 2022 to 2024 school years.
The school district, which voted 3-2 in favor of firing Conrade Mayer, heard public testimony both against and in support of the former educator at its meeting Thursday. Mayer was previously put on administrative leave in December 2023 after female students came forward with allegations of sexual harassment from the previous school years.
Angela Griffin, a spokesperson for the Folsom Cordova Unified School District, said Mayer was immediately placed on leave after they received an allegation. The district recommended termination the following month, and the matter was held under a hearing in April.
“While the District does not typically comment on personnel matters, Mr. Mayer exercised his legal right to have this process conducted publicly,” Griffin wrote. “We understand this has been a difficult and emotional situation for many in our community and we appreciate the patience and understanding of our students, families and staff throughout this process.”
The Folsom Cordova board reviewed many items, including a letter from the school district recommending to terminate Mayer and an administrative hearing’s findings, including testimony from Mayer’s colleagues, students, and a school district investigation. The hearing also recommended terminating Mayer.
At least since the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year, Mayer had “routinely engaged in sexual harassment of female students,” the termination letter from the Folsom Cordova Unified School District stated. The report included testimonies from five female students.
Kaylee Mize, 18, identified herself as one of the students who came forward. She said Mayer “broke her sense of safety” and had a painful effect on her mental health.
“There were days where I woke up and dreaded coming to school,” said Mize. “Not just because of school, work or a test, but because I didn’t feel safe mentally or emotionally. I was anxious, I was afraid, and I felt like my voice didn’t matter. That’s not what a school is supposed to feel like.”
Mayer urged the school district to find a “better way” to protect the community’s “givers.” He added that, similar to him, other coaches have had their intentions “misinterpreted.” He did not address the specific allegations listed in the report during public comment.
The district report stated Mayer said he made comments about female students’ appearance because one of his responsibilities as a campus monitor is to “enforce the dress code.”
“I only learned what I was taught by my mentors, and my mentors were coaches, teachers, community members and so on and so forth,” Mayer said during the meeting. “All I know are the things that I was taught, and that was to give anytime I had something.”
Folsom Cordova’s investigation
During one reported instance, Conrade allegedly stopped a student while she was walking home from cheer practice. When the student was in Mayer’s car, he said he recognized her by her “cute little” butt, and she should avoid walking by herself during “kidnapping hour,” the report stated. Following this interaction, Mayer allegedly sent two students a friend request on Facebook. After both students accepted his request, Mayer told them both that he was happy they were friends on social media, saying he “thought (they) were going to make (them) work for it,” according to the report. In another instance, Mayer called one student a “pretty girl,” said her clothing was “showing too much skin,” and offered her a ride home from cheer practice, the investigation found.
The district report found that Mayer made comments of a sexual nature around his colleagues while serving as a campus monitor. For example, Mayer pointed out how students were wearing “provocative clothing,” and he felt some were dressed like “strippers,” the investigation stated.
The investigation also found that Mayer physically touched a student, according to the hearing documents. While riding on a golf cart with a student on campus, a student reported Mayer touched her leg on the “mid thigh, upper knee,” the report stated.
Mayer previously ran the Mentors at Cordova High program and was awarded the 2012 Rancho Cordovan of the Year accolade. He is also a leader in several community groups in Rancho Cordova, including the founder member of the Rancho Cordova Police Activities League.
Ambar Vicente, a deputy with the Sacramento County’s Sheriff’s Office, stated Friday that there has been no criminal investigation conducted on Mayer.
Debate at meeting
During the board meeting Thursday night, the room was divided between supporters of Mayer, advocates for the students who came forward, and former students who were against Mayer’s employment from being reinstated.
Supporters of Mize said the decision to reinstate Mayer’s employment would set a “horrific precedent” on Cordova High School’s campus.
Angelina Hinojosa, a citizen of the Pinoleville Pomo Nation, said Mize’s complaints represent how Native girls are “overlooked, silenced, or denied justice” in Sacramento County. Mize is Menominee, Ho-Chunk, Osage and Quapaw.
“Remove men that prey on women in spaces that are supposed to be safe. Think if that was your daughter, or your niece, or your sister, let your decision be the right one,” Hinojosa told the board. “Don’t let people’s interactions with this man sway you into making a decision against women who have came out about sexual harassment. Do the right thing, shut it down, and protect these students.”
Rancho Cordova Councilmember David Sander called the termination of Mayer a harm that affects the “students and the very fabric of Rancho Cordova.” He stated Mayer is a “respected member” of the community. Councilmember Garrett Gatewood also said Mayer is a “great African American leader” in the region.
“We need someone like him to stay there to help our most disadvantaged youth get through high school,” Gatewood said.
When supporters of Mize left public comment, one Mayer supporter, who was holding a “I stand with Conrade” sign, called the speakers “paid actors,” and “liars,” heckling those who spoke in support of Mize.
Tammy Shaw, a retired employee of Folsom Cordova Unified said that Mayer always had the “best intentions.”
Before the board called its ruling, Joshua Mize, Kaylee’s father, sat in the front row of the audience with his two younger daughters. Both girls are students in the district.
“I hope this sends a message that there are sexual predators in our school system,” Joshua Mize said. “We need always to be alert and always take girls’ voices to value.”
This story was originally published July 12, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
CORRECTION: This story was updated to correct the year when Conrade Mayer was placed on administrative year.
