Mercer Island 2nd Teacher Child Predator Identified – MI Reporter

New reporting from InvestigateWest and Mercer Island Reporter confirms what many feared: a second Mercer Island teacher predator has come to light.

After years of silence around English teacher Chris Twombley, it’s now confirmed that another longtime teacher, Curtis Johnston, pursued a sexual relationship with a student in 2011, while the district knew and did nothing. It’s also been alleged that as recently as last year, Johnston was still involved in inappropriate relationships with students, further showing how deeply this culture of protection has endured.

Meeting notes from that time show the goal was “to protect Curtis and the District.” He was allowed to keep teaching for 14 more years.

The victim, now 33, says the relationship began her senior year and continued into college. Johnston gave her gifts, paid for hotels, and controlled her socially and emotionally. Even after being reprimanded for drinking with students, he remained in the classroom, protected by a culture that normalized teacher–student boundary violations in spaces like the so-called “Man Cave.”

Mercer Island Culture of Protection and Silence

Like with previous MI Teacher Child Predator Twombley, district leaders and PTA figures closed ranks instead of protecting students.

Superintendent Fred Rundle lied to the community, claiming there was only one Twombley victim, even though he personally submitted a second victim’s name to police.

School Board President Maggie Tai Tucker actively directed and helped cover up both scandals through the PTA, shaping statements that downplayed or deflected accountability.

Alongside them, PTA leaders and school board / city council candidates Julian Bradley, Stephanie Burnett, and Julie Hsieh (in the news because she was sued this year by King County for cutting down trees to improve a view)publicly defended the district while knowing for years about Twombley’s misconduct and Johnston’s sudden resignation. Teachers who raised concerns were ignored or pushed out, students threatened, and parents who spoke up were harassed or banned from local forums.

Is this the community Mercer Island community? Where leaders allow child predators to use schools as their own tinder? With Mercer Island elections, and 3 PTA leaders who helped cover up for 2 child predators on the ballot, use your vote.