Seattle Teachers Union President Faces Allegations
A teacher, who is also known to be an activist for Black Lives Matter, is anticipated to become the president of the Seattle teachers union despite allegations of abusing a student, according to a report by The Seattle Times.
Ibijoke Idowu-Holiday, a special education teacher at Rising Star Elementary School, has been on paid leave since December while under investigation for child abuse. Seattle Public Schools Chief of Staff, Rev. Redmond, confirmed this in an email to The Seattle Times.
Idowu-Holiday expressed her determination in a recent media appearance, stating, “I am not afraid to be a line stepper when it’s necessary and when it protects others.”
In the recent election for president of the Seattle Education Association (SEA), Idowu-Holiday secured over 58% of the vote, despite the ongoing allegations. The SEA has not addressed a request for comments regarding these charges.
The allegations came from the parents of a partially verbal third grader with autism at Rising Star. They reported noticing bruises on their child’s arm last October, which their son reportedly attributed to Idowu-Holiday using visual aids. There were also claims from a therapist who allegedly witnessed Idowu-Holiday throw a marker at the child’s head in December.
Consequently, the police forwarded a statutory referral to the King County prosecutor’s office. A spokesperson indicated that this type of referral typically occurs when authorities feel there isn’t sufficient evidence for criminal charges.
Idowu-Holiday has yet to respond to requests for comments on the matter. Meanwhile, The Seattle Times shared that several parents have come forward in her defense, stating that their children, who are Black and Brown, have experienced “kindness, love, and educational rigor” in her classroom.
Idowu-Holiday’s political involvement predates her candidacy for SEA president. In July 2020, amid protests spurred by George Floyd’s death, she was recognized as a key organizer of protests in Renton and West Seattle, where she would call out local businesses regarding their stance on Black Lives Matter.
