Superintendent addresses allegation of misconduct by former MIHS teacher
Published 1:48 pm Friday, October 24, 2025
Following the publication of an InvestigateWest article on Oct. 23 that described alleged sexual misconduct involving former Mercer Island High School (MIHS) instructor Curtis Johnston with a senior female student in 2011, the Mercer Island School District (MISD) sent a letter to the community that day to address the situation.
In the message, MISD Superintendent Fred Rundle said that: “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.”
Rundle said that MIHS Principal Nick Wold and his team will meet with staff to discuss the situation and provide accurate information. Rundle and others were planning to meet with students on Oct. 24 to answer questions, provide support and ensure that students feel heard.
The district has opened its own independent investigation into the matter after reviewing 2011 district records and Rundle has filed a Mercer Island Police Department and a Child Protective Services report related to Johnston’s alleged misconduct.
“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,” the letter said.
In the InvestigativeWest article, the former student alleges the relationship with Johnston in 2011 was sexual in nature.
On Oct. 23, Rundle said he placed current high school teacher David Willecke on paid administrative leave pending an investigation into concerns that he may have failed to report information related to Johnston’s alleged inappropriate relationship with a student in the past, the letter reads.
“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,” Rundle said.
The MISD has just formed a Student Safety and Wellbeing Committee and will hold its first meeting on Nov. 4. The committee will include 30 students, parents, staff, administrators, community leaders and external partners. The committee will address preventing staff and adult misconduct; reviewing curriculum and education the district uses to teach students how to protect themselves and advocate for their peers; evaluating current policies and procedures to identify ways to strengthen how the district responds when staff misconduct or related concerns are reported and more.
Each year, all MISD staff members complete Vector (Safe Schools) training focused on child abuse prevention, sexual misconduct, and professional boundaries.
“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,” Rundle said.
For the full letter, go to: https://tinyurl.com/ycdstnye
