The district’s completed human resources investigation found that it was “more likely than not” that Idowu grabbed the student by the arm, causing bruises that his parents documented and later reported to the district.
A Seattle Public Schools investigation has concluded it was "more likely than not" that Seattle Education Association President Ibijoke Idowu physically grabbed a special education student hard enough to leave bruises and substantiated additional allegations that she yelled at students, yet she remains president of the union representing roughly 6,000 district employees.
Idowu, a special education teacher at Rising Star Elementary School in South Beacon Hill, has been on paid administrative leave since December 2025 while Seattle Public Schools investigated allegations made by the family of a third-grade student with autism, a speech delay, and limited verbal communication. Yet, during that time, she was able to run for and win the election for president of the union, even with the investigation ongoing
According to FOX 13, the district's completed human resources investigation found that it was "more likely than not" that Idowu grabbed the student by the arm, causing bruises that his parents documented and later reported to the district. The report also substantiated allegations that Idowu yelled at students and found witness accounts supporting claims that children flinched when she approached them.
Other allegations, including claims that Idowu threw objects toward students and pulled a student's hair, were investigated but were not substantiated due to insufficient evidence. Throughout the investigation, Idowu denied many of the allegations.
The investigation was forwarded to Seattle Public Schools' Human Resources department for possible disciplinary action. The district has not announced a final employment decision, and Idowu remains on paid leave.
The allegations first surfaced after the student's parents reported finding bruises on their son's arm in October and again in December 2025. Using visual aids, they said they asked their son what happened, and he identified Idowu as the person who caused the injuries.
The family also alleged that the student's therapist witnessed Idowu throw a marker at the child's head while he was working at a classroom whiteboard, striking his face and glasses.
Tyson Marsh, the student's father, previously said the incidents had taken a lasting emotional toll on his son. "Any movement toward him is received as if you were going to attack him," Marsh said.
According to the district's investigation, multiple staff members corroborated portions of the family's concerns, including reports that students appeared fearful of Idowu and that she yelled at children in her classroom.
Seattle police also investigated the allegations. Earlier this year, detectives forwarded the case to the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office as a statutory referral. Prosecutors previously explained that statutory referrals are typically submitted when investigators do not believe they have sufficient evidence to support criminal charges. No criminal charges have been filed.
Despite the findings of the district's investigation, Idowu continues to serve as president of the Seattle Education Association. The union, which represents teachers, paraprofessionals, counselors, secretaries, and other school employees across Seattle Public Schools, certified Idowu's election earlier this year. At the time, SEA spokesperson Julie Popper said any member in good standing may run for president and vote in union elections, with members remaining in good standing so long as they are actively employed by the district and paying union dues.
The student's family has criticized not only Seattle Public Schools but also the union's response to the allegations. "We are also deeply disturbed by the actions of the union and union members who continue to sweep this under the rug and hide it from the public view," Marsh said following the release of the district's investigative findings.
Seattle Public Schools has not publicly announced whether it intends to terminate or otherwise discipline Idowu. The Seattle Education Association has likewise not indicated whether the investigation's findings will affect her role as union president.
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