Superintendent Rundle Message On Allegation of Sexual Misconduct By Former MIHS Teacher Curtis Johnston

Dear Mercer Island Community,

In a news article published today, we learned of an allegation of sexual misconduct involving a former Mercer Island High School teacher, Curtis Johnston, and a female student who graduated in 2011. The article describes an alleged relationship between a teacher and his then-student, outlining the timeline of this relationship beginning during the student’s senior year and extending into the student’s freshman year of college. The former student reports that Mr. Johnston pursued a relationship with her beginning on a school-sponsored trip her senior year.

• Our Commitment to Safety and Accountability
• Student Safety and Well-Being Committee
• Training and Resources for MIHS Educators
• Education and Resources for MIHS Students

Mr. Johnston's alleged conduct is appalling. Our former student’s story is heartbreaking to hear as an educator, as a father, and as the current leader of the District where this is alleged to have occurred. While I was not serving as superintendent at that time, I am today, and I am fully committed to the safety and well-being of our students. We will take action to confront this situation by empowering our students, collaborating with staff, partnering with families, and strengthening our community's resolve to uphold our shared values. 

A review of District records shows that the District leadership of 2011 investigated allegations that Mr. Johnston’s interactions with a student violated, among other things, the District’s professional boundaries policy. The information gleaned from that 2011 investigation did not reveal any evidence or indication that a sexual relationship existed between Mr. Johnston and the student. The investigation yielded a letter of direction to Curtis Johnston concerning his personal and professional boundaries with students and their families. This letter of direction outlined expected actions to be taken by the teacher and school leadership going forward. 

Today, Investigate West published its article describing new allegations that, because of the timing and details provided, the District believes relate to the student at the center of a 2011 investigation. As a result, we have now learned that this former student alleges the relationship with Mr. Johnston in 2011 was sexual in nature. The details shared with the reporter were not disclosed during the original 2011 investigation, but they now inform our decision to reopen the matter and conduct a new investigation.   

The District team and I have and will continue to take the necessary steps to review these new allegations. No matter how much time has passed, our responsibility to protect students remains the same. This afternoon, we began taking the following actions. Where appropriate, I will continue to share updates as we learn more and gather additional information.

• This afternoon, I placed current high school teacher Mr. David Willecke on paid administrative leave pending an investigation into concerns that he may have failed to report information related to Mr. Johnston’s alleged inappropriate relationship with a student in the past. Mr. Willecke himself is not under investigation for any misconduct involving his interactions with students. Placing Mr. Willecke on leave at this time is not a disciplinary action but rather a step intended to preserve a calm and focused educational environment for students while the review is conducted.
• I filed both a Mercer Island Police Department (MIPD) and a Child Protective Services (CPS) report related to Mr. Johnston’s alleged misconduct; both are actions we take regardless of when an incident occurred or was alleged to have occurred. 
• Regardless of the outcomes of the MIPD and CPS inquiries, the District has also opened our own independent investigation. This will be a new investigation conducted by an external law firm assigned to the district by our risk management pool. 
• Principal Wold and the high school team will meet with staff to discuss the allegations and provide accurate information about this matter. 
• Tomorrow, we will meet with students and offer opportunities for individual and small-group conversations to answer questions, provide support, and ensure students feel heard.  

I want to be very clear that under my leadership, our District has held and will continue to hold ourselves accountable for taking action when concerns arise. When students, staff or families make a report, we act. See something, say Something. Know something, do something.

Our Commitment to Safety and Accountability

The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority. As a district, we take any allegation of misconduct seriously. We continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement and external agencies while conducting internal reviews to ensure our systems are effective, transparent, and continually improving. 

Our responsibility extends beyond responding to incidents; it is about building and sustaining a culture where safety, integrity, and accountability guide everything we do. This includes continuous review and strengthening of our policies, procedures, and training.

Although we cannot undo the actions or inactions of our predecessors, we are committed to ensuring that our current staff receive training and support to uphold the highest ethical standards expected of all educators. We are equally committed to providing our students with the knowledge and resources they need to recognize potential misconduct and to feel safe and empowered to report concerns.

Student Safety and Well-Being Committee

On November 4, we will convene the first committee meeting with a newly formed group of 30 students, parents, staff, administrators, community leaders, and external partners. This group will help guide our ongoing efforts to strengthen safety and accountability across the District. The committee’s work will focus on several key areas, including: 

1. Preventing staff and adult misconduct;
2. Reviewing curriculum and education we use to teach students how to protect themselves and advocate for their peers;
3. Evaluating current policies and procedures to identify ways to strengthen how we respond when staff misconduct or related concerns are reported;
4. Improving how we inform and educate families; and
5. Leveraging external partners as a resource in support of students.

Above all, our priority is to ensure every student learns in environments that are safe, supportive and grounded in trust. And in the areas we can improve, we will be guided by the recommendations and insights of this committee.    

Training and Resources for MIHS Educators

Every year, all staff complete Vector (Safe Schools) training focused on Child Abuse Prevention, Sexual Misconduct, and Professional Boundaries. This training is updated annually to reflect evolving best practices and state requirements. Additionally, our Staff Handbook is revised each year to reinforce essential guidelines on:

• Maintaining professional staff-student boundaries
• Mandatory reporting procedures
• Harassment, intimidation, and bullying (HIB)
• Equity, inclusion, and non-discrimination
   

In addition, all staff participate in policy presentations to start the year. This August, Child Protective Services (CPS) provided on-site training at Mercer Island High School to ensure that every certificated staff member can recognize and report concerns promptly and appropriately and have their questions answered.

To further strengthen safeguards, beginning January 2026, the District is expanding background checks to all current employees, not only new hires. We are also establishing a District committee to review and enhance our mandatory reporting processes and response protocols to ensure concerns raised are addressed with urgency and care.

Education and Resources for MIHS Students

Our commitment to student safety also includes proactive education and empowerment. Every student has access to the See Something, Say Something App on their District-issued device, which provides a confidential and direct way to report concerns ranging from bullying, sexual harassment, to fears of suicidal ideation and student drug or alcohol use. Principal Wold provides annual training on the use of this tool through The Current, MIHS’s student-run television program.

Within our Image Health Curriculum - a required course for graduation - students engage in lessons on:

• Healthy relationships and identifying boundary-crossing behaviors
• Consent and understanding when it is not being given
• Domestic violence awareness, including guest presentations by Detective Phan
• Recognizing grooming tactics and understanding sex-trafficking prevention
• The Sandy Hook Promise’s message of care, community, and reporting

Additionally, our seniors participate in annual assemblies with the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center (KCSARC), which provides education on recognizing, preventing, and responding to sexual assault, as well as supporting survivors with compassion and courage.

Students are encouraged to seek support and guidance as needed through our MIHS and MIYFS counselors and our administrative team. Additionally, we implore students to submit safety and other concerns via See Something, Say Something. 

Today, the MIHS Administrative Team met with parent advisors, student leaders, and all teachers to discuss and plan how to best meet the needs of all our students as we process the events that are unfolding while also continuing our commitment to student safety and wellbeing. Our engagement will continue and be responsive to current and future student needs 

We know this is a difficult time for our students, families, and staff. This moment calls for reflection, honesty, and action. As a community, we share a collective responsibility to protect our students and to uphold the values that define Mercer Island. I am deeply aware of the trust that families place in us each day, and I do not take that responsibility lightly.

While the events of the past cannot be changed, we can and we will learn from them. Our District will continue to act and move forward ethically and with integrity. Together, we can ensure that every student feels safe, seen, and respected in every classroom and every space within our schools.

Thank you for your continued partnership and commitment to our students and staff.

In partnership,

Fred Rundle

Superintendent