To our Lakeridge families, below is a message from our collective PTA Presidents. We would appreciate you sharing any questions you have in the form below to ensure they are brought forward for the upcoming MISD webinar on Student Safety. As always, if you have anything you would like to reach out to us about, please do.

Jessi Biagi & Tricia Jaffe
Lakeridge PTA Co-Presidents

Dear Mercer Island Families,

The Mercer Island PTA presidents, like so many in our community, have been shocked and deeply troubled by the recent InvestigateWest report detailing allegations of sexual misconduct involving another Mercer Island High School teacher. (Read the article here and Mercer Island School District (MISD) Superintendent Fred Rundle’s statement here)

These are our children — their safety and well-being must always come first. As parents and community members, our most important responsibility is to protect our students and support survivors.

We honor the immense courage it takes for our former students to share their experiences. We are committed to respecting their privacy, believing their stories, and standing with them. The harm the survivors have endured is real, and it is our collective duty to ensure that every child in our district feels safe, supported, and protected at all times.

What has come to light with both situations is heartbreaking and unacceptable. It demands transparency and accountability from the district — and continued vigilance and advocacy from families.

For context, the Mercer Island PTA Council, Mercer Island High School (MIHS) PTSA, Islander Middle School (IMS) PTA, all MI Elementary (Northwood, Island Park, West Mercer, Lakeridge) PTAs and Mercer Island Preschool Association (MIPA) are independent, volunteer-run nonprofit organizations made up of parents and caregivers. PTAs are not a governance body of the school district and have no investigatory or enforcement authority. Our role is to advocate for the health, well-being, inclusion and education of every child and their families, foster open communication, and ensure that our voices are heard — especially when trust and safety are at stake.

MISD is planning a public webinar at 5 PM on Wednesday October 29, 2025 to discuss questions the community has about these issues (please be on the lookout for MISD communication on this). In advance of that session, Mercer Island PTA Presidents are gathering questions and concerns from families so that the community’s voice is fully represented and centered on student safety and survivor support.

Feedback we have received indicates that families have lingering questions about both allegations, such as:

• How the district is addressing past and current allegations of misconduct.

• What safeguards are being implemented to ensure student safety and rebuild trust.

• How investigations are conducted — and by whom.

• What accountability measures will apply to administrators, teachers, and systems that failed to protect students.

• How the district plans to prioritize survivor safety, voice, and healing.

To this end, if you have any questions,please submit them here before 12 Noon on Tuesday October 28, 2025: 

https://forms.gle/9omhp4CQzhcpLo8w9 

We will compile and share the most common themes with district leadership ahead of the webinar.

This is a critical moment for our community to stand together — not in silence, but in solidarity with students and survivors. The PTA’s role is to advocate for students and elevate family voices, which includes demanding transparency in how the district handles these deeply serious matters.

We also want to note that MISD will be holding a Student Wellbeing and Safety Committee meeting on November 4, 2025 and we encourage families to stay engaged as the district begins this broader review.

Together, we can ensure the continued safety of our children and foster an open, transparent partnership between the district and our families.

In partnership and care,

Sarah Karim, Mercer Island PTA Council President

Debbie Nelson, Mercer Island PTA Council President Elect

Kimberly Frank, Mercer Island High School (MIHS) PTSA President

Jennifer Crespi, Islander Middle School (IMS) PTSA President

Lesley Malakoti, Northwood PTA President

Lauren Silvers and Robin Pearson, West Mercer PTA Co-Presidents

Naveen Tadepalli and Chris Peluso, Island Park PTA Co-Presidents 

Jessi Biagi and Tricia Jaffe, Lakeridge PTA Co-Presidents 

Courtney Hampson, Mercer Island Preschool Association (MIPA) President