Washington school district hosts antisemitism ‘listening session’ with former principal accused of allowing harassment against Jewish student

The upcoming listening session is the latest in a series of heated meetings that families describe as ongoing. Parents say antisemitic incidents have increased sharply across Bellevue schools since October 7, 2023, yet accuse district leadership of not taking effective action.

Speaking with The Ari Hoffman Show on Talk Radio 570 KVI, several Bellevue parents said the district has consistently failed to respond adequately to antisemitic behavior, hostile learning environments, and anti-Israel messaging within its schools. Parents accused the district of failing to respond to many antisemitic incidents and anti-Israel propaganda, particularly since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, including some incidents allegedly instigated by teachers and staff.”

Their frustration escalated sharply when they learned that BSD had hired Dr. Jackson and planned to place him directly in front of Jewish and Israeli parents at the next listening session.

Earlier this year, a Seattle family filed a 13-page lawsuit detailing a year-long pattern of antisemitic harassment endured by their 15-year-old daughter, identified as MKL, while Dr. Jackson served as principal at Nathan Hale High School.

According to the lawsuit, the harassment began shortly after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. As one of the few openly Jewish students at the school, MKL, who wore a Star of David and participated in the Jewish Student Union, became a frequent target. Students allegedly directed slurs at her in hallways and classrooms, including statements such as “Hitler’s plan should have worked” and “I hate the Jews.” In one incident, a student spat on her, screamed at her for being Jewish, and threatened physical harm if she wore holiday apparel. The family reported this and other incidents to Dr. Jackson, but the lawsuit alleges that he acknowledged the frequency of the harassment while taking no meaningful action.

The complaint also describes repeated displays of antisemitic graffiti around the campus. Swastikas accompanied by “Free Palestine” slogans reportedly appeared in bathrooms and other areas for months. A swastika was found drawn on the softball team’s dugout bench, used only by the girls’ home team, of which MKL was the only Jewish member. The family says administrators took no timely or serious action in response to these incidents.

During a reading of Elie Wiesel’s Night, students allegedly laughed at passages describing the Holocaust, and a peer drew a swastika on the Jewish student’s folder. Teachers did not intervene, according to the lawsuit. Online harassment amplified the problem when antisemitic comments and false allegations circulated through TikTok and Instagram, including from an account associated with the school’s Muslim Student Association. These accusations spread to neighboring schools and, according to the complaint, further isolated the student.

The most alarming event occurred on May 22, 2024. According to the lawsuit, throughout that day, students repeatedly entered MKL’s classrooms attempting to lure her into the hallway. In her final class, her teacher, sensing danger, kept her inside and locked the door. Moments later, approximately 20 students gathered outside, banging on the door, rattling the handle, and shouting threats and antisemitic slurs. From inside the classroom, the student received messages from peers warning that she would be beaten if she came out.

Terrified, she texted her mother, “Mom. I rlly rlly rlly need you,” and called her father while hiding inside. She later told her parents she believed she would be physically attacked if the students managed to break in. Although school security eventually escorted her to the office, the family says that the next day, Vice Principal Makela Steward-Monroe told them the school could not provide ongoing escorts or ensure her safety in the hallways. As a result, she did not return to Nathan Hale for the remainder of the school year.

Despite an agreement to provide pass/fail grades due to her forced absence, the administration allegedly reneged on the agreement, negatively impacting the student’s GPA. The district refused to grant her a safety transfer and instead made her apply through the general transfer process.

During a June meeting, Principal Jackson reportedly refused to appear in person and left a Zoom call early without answering questions about how the school was addressing antisemitism. The student later suffered nightmares, flashbacks, and severe anxiety, according to the complaint, and ultimately transferred out of the school.

The lawsuit accused Dr. Jackson and the district of violating the Washington Law Against Discrimination, negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and failing to supervise staff.

While these incidents were beginning to unfold, Jackson was named Washington State Secondary Principal of the Year in 2023 by the Association of Washington School Principals, which said he received “a record-breaking number of nominations” from school, district, and community members. He was also recognized by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and called a “connector of people” known for his “transformational leadership.”

When parents in Bellevue learned that Dr. Jackson would be one of the district administrators present at the upcoming listening session, many were stunned.

Janine Thorn, Chief of Communications for the Bellevue School District, defended the district’s decision in a statement to The Ari Hoffman Show on Talk Radio 570 KVI. “Dr. Jackson, along with several other district administrators, will be participating in the upcoming listening sessions for Jewish and Israeli families and parents.”

She added that the sessions are meant to “offer a space for everyone to learn from one another, broaden understanding, and engage in thoughtful dialogues.”

Thorn emphasized the district’s commitment to modeling what it calls a “Beloved Community… one that listens deeply, strengthens relationships, and leans into understanding, even when conversations are complex.” She declined to comment on the ongoing litigation but said BSD remains focused on creating “open and constructive engagement” for all community members.