High School Principal Fired After Exchanging Hundreds of Emails with Student

• Mike Mauthe, a principal at Xavier High School, was fired last November for the Diocese of Green Bay's "Our Promise to Protect" Safe Environment Policy, St. Francis Xavier Catholic School System announced
• Appleton police said its investigation followed the diocese’s probe on electronic communication Mauthe had with a former Xavier High School student
• "The Appleton Police Department determined there was not probable cause to believe a crime had been committed by Mauthe and the investigation was closed," Chief Polly Olson said in a statement

Wisconsin authorities recently shared documentation from a now-closed investigation into a former high school principal who was fired in November amid allegations of inappropriate communication with a student.

In a letter sent to families in November, the St. Francis Xavier Catholic School System announced the termination of Mike Mauthe, the principal at Xavier High School in Appleton, Fox affiliate WLUK reported at the time. 

The school system added that Mauthe was fired for violating the Diocese of Green Bay's "Our Promise to Protect" Safe Environment Policy,” per NBC affiliate WGBA.

St. Francis Xavier Catholic School System’s action came after a complaint about Mauthe was filed with the Green Bay Catholic Diocese Safe Environment Office, WLUK added. Following protocol, the school system submitted the information to the police.

This week, the Appleton Police Department shared documents from its investigation of Mauthe related to reports of inappropriate conversations with students, WGBA, WLUK and ABC affiliate WBAY reported. 

Appleton Police Chief Polly Olson shared a statement with the local media outlets about the investigation, which stated that there was no probable cause that Mauthe committed a crime in the matter. 

“On November 12, 2024, the Appleton Police Department was contacted by the Diocese of Green Bay regarding their Appleton-based Xavier High School and the school principal, Mike Mauthe,” read Olson’s statement. “Diocese leaders were concerned about information they discovered while investigating a personnel complaint made to them regarding Mr. Mauthe. The Diocese’s investigation centered on electronic communication Mauthe had with a former Xavier High School student.”

“As these communications were reviewed, the Diocese was concerned about the nature of the subject matter and they contacted the Appleton Police Department,” the statement continued. “A detailed investigation was completed over the next four months, and the Appleton Police Department determined there was not probable cause to believe a crime had been committed by Mauthe and the investigation was closed.”

Olson further elaborated to WGBA in an email on why her department wasn’t referring criminal charges in the case. 

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"To further investigate Mr. Mauthe’s behavior, we would need a victim to come forward who can provide evidence of a criminal act,” Olson wrote. “There are instances where we investigate reported incidents that may involve unethical, immoral, and inappropriate behavior. We are limited to enforcing the law, not policing immoral behavior."

The local TV outlets obtained the police investigation's documentation through an open records request. 

The police said the matter began in November when Mauthe resigned from his job at Xavier High School for a new role at St. Mary Catholic High School, WGBA reported, According to records, someone complained about the hiring due to Mauthe’s alleged behavior, which prompted the diocese and later authorities to investigate. 

The police investigation said the diocese was unaware of Mauthe’s alleged behavior until he resigned from his post at Xavier, WBAY reported.

According to the diocese’s probe, over 200 emails allegedly came from Mauthe to a female student who had since graduated from Xavier in the spring of 2024, WBAY and WLUK reported. 

Among the things Mauthe allegedly wrote in the email correspondences to the student included: “I honestly have never met anyone like you,” “Really glad we're close” and “If you’re staying and you get done, email me and we will meet upstairs to avoid company. PS I have had 2500 students. Zero book clubs. Only you. Hate that you think you are replicable.”

The student later told police she had communicated with Mauthe until October 2024, adding that nothing of a sexual nature occurred between herself and her former principal, WGBA reported. The student also told authorities she believes that there were no physical relations committed by him towards other students. Rather, she said, it was more “just like, like mental manipulation.”

PEOPLE contacted the St. Francis Xavier Catholic School System, the Appleton Police Department, Mauthe and the Diocese of Green Bay for comment about the investigation on Friday, March 28, but they did not immediately respond.

Shortly after the police opened its investigation, Mauthe took to Facebook to address the matter and acknowledged he violated a policy, WBAY reported.

“The truth is I am not a perfect person," Mauthe wrote at the time. “This weekend has given me a lot of time to think about how much I chase things like attention and importance to people, how I have an unhealthy attachment to trying to help, and how my actions can hurt and harm, even when it’s the opposite of what I intend.”