Enrique “Rico” Camacho, the Democratic candidate for Wisconsin’s open 82nd Assembly District, resigned from his teaching position at St. Francis High School in November 2023 after the district placed him on administrative leave and concluded he had violated multiple board policies, according to internal letters and a resignation agreement obtained by the Heartland Post.
In a July 10, 2023, letter from Principal Mike Lewandowski, the district addressed a parent concern that Camacho had engaged in multiple conversations with both the parent and her daughter about family and relationship issues and had provided advice. The parent alleged Camacho told her daughter she had “commitment issues, daddy issues, and she shouldn’t be dating.”
The letter stated the district was unable to substantiate the specific comments. It did find that the student had missed an academic course on at least two occasions to discuss personal issues with Camacho, and that he had engaged in discussions with both the parent and the student regarding family issues, including relationship issues with the father, on multiple occasions.
The principal directed Camacho to refer students and parents seeking help with personal issues to a guidance counselor or administrator, and prohibited unassigned students from being in his classroom without prior administrative permission. Failure to follow the directives could result in discipline up to termination, the letter said.
On October 17, 2023, Superintendent Deborah Kerr placed Camacho on administrative leave with pay “due to allegations of inappropriate and unprofessional conduct,” according to a letter from her office. He was ordered to remain off campus and not engage with students or staff unless directed by administration while the district investigated.
An October 27, 2023, letter summarizing the investigation stated that during a Government class, while teaching about the judicial branch’s role in interpreting the law, Camacho used “assault” as an example and firmly put his hand around a student’s neck. The student grabbed his hand and removed it. The district interviewed Camacho, six students in the class, and one other staff member.
Camacho recalled performing a “demonstration” but said he did not recall “firmly grabbing” the student and did not recall touching her, though he indicated he may have accidentally touched her. The complainant and other witnesses corroborated that the touching occurred, according to the letter.
The investigation findings stated that Camacho “did place [his] hand around a student’s neck in an inappropriate manner while demonstrating ‘assault’ during a Government class” and that in doing so he violated Board Policies 3210 (Staff Ethics), 3230 (Ethics and Conflict of Interest), and 3213 (Student Supervision and Welfare).
The letter noted prior administrative interventions on other matters, including meeting students at a bar in Waukesha while playing in a band, bringing a couch into his classroom, using sarcasm and belittling a student with special needs by discussing their haircut, keeping students in his classroom without a teacher’s permission and counseling them, and making unprofessional comments about another teacher. Camacho declined to respond to those matters at the time.
Camacho and the district then entered a resignation agreement effective November 1, 2023. Under the agreement, the district solicited the resignation, which was not voluntary within the meaning of state unemployment law. The district agreed to provide severance pay through the end of the semester, limited health insurance continuation, and a neutral employment reference. The agreement stated that responses to inquiries would be consistent with the position that he resigned in lieu of termination but not for misconduct as defined by Wisconsin Statutes section 108.04(5).
Camacho, a Waukesha alderman and self-described career educator, is now running for the Assembly seat covering most of the city of Waukesha. His campaign has emphasized protecting children and fighting for the next generation.
He faces Republican Bryson Reyes, an Army veteran and manufacturing professional who has received endorsements from the Milwaukee Police Association, the Waukesha Deputy Sheriff Labor Union, and Waukesha County Sheriff Eric Severson, in the November 3 election. The seat is after Republican Rep. Scott Allen decided not seek reelection.
