Former Mason County Eastern Staffer Charged in Student Abuse Case

Tanya Schram faces felony counts of child sexually abusive activity and computer crimes.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 10:06pm

An extreme close-up of a shattered smartphone screen reflecting a faint blue light, conceptually representing the digital abuse of minors by a school employee.The harsh flash of a camera captures the digital aftermath of a school staff member's alleged exploitation of students.Mason Today

A 33-year-old former paraprofessional at Mason County Eastern Schools has been arrested and charged with four felony counts related to inappropriate conduct with two high school students, including allegations of sending explicit photographs. The investigation began in November 2025 after students reported the behavior to a school resource officer.

Why it matters

The case highlights the serious nature of allegations involving the exploitation of minors by school staff, as well as the importance of thorough background checks and swift action by school districts to address such claims and cooperate with law enforcement.

The details

Tanya Schram was terminated from her position immediately after the school district was notified of the allegations. Investigators determined the incidents occurred several times over the summer and into the early 2025 school year, with the first specific incident reported to authorities taking place on Nov. 12, 2025. The charges against Schram include two counts of child sexually abusive activity and two counts of using a computer to commit a crime.

  • The investigation began in November 2025 after students reported inappropriate behavior.
  • The first specific incident reported to authorities took place on Nov. 12, 2025.
  • Schram was arrested and arraigned last week on the felony charges.

The players

Tanya Schram

A 33-year-old former paraprofessional at Mason County Eastern Schools who has been charged with four felony counts related to inappropriate conduct with two high school students.

Kim Cole

The Mason County Sheriff who confirmed the investigation and the nature of the evidence discovered.

Paul Shoup

The superintendent of Mason County Eastern Schools who stated that Schram was hired through a third-party staffing agency and was terminated immediately after the district was notified of the allegations.

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What they’re saying

“Our school resource officer was made aware late last fall of some inappropriate behavior that was going on through the form of photographs that were being sent from a parapro of Mason County Eastern Schools to a couple of students at the school.”

— Kim Cole, Mason County Sheriff

“They're serious charges and they should be serious charges when you're exploiting children for photographs and stuff like that. I'm happy with the charges the prosecutor levied. I'm happy with the school resource officer and the detective bureau and how they handled the investigation.”

— Kim Cole, Mason County Sheriff

What’s next

Schram has since bonded out of jail. She is scheduled for a probable cause conference on April 1, followed by a preliminary hearing on April 8.

The takeaway

This case underscores the critical importance of thorough background checks, strict policies, and swift action by school districts to address any allegations of inappropriate conduct by staff members in order to protect students and maintain trust within the community.