Focus: We Keep Us Safe Folgen

The Garfield community—and, it seems, the whole city of Seattle—mourns Tom Hudson, remembering him as a great man and teacher. One of the students who was closest to him, Jonathan Hill, spends the weeks after Hudson's death trying to ensure his reputation and legacy go untarnished by the allegations that led to his suspension in late 1999.  But secretly, Jonathan is still reeling from the weeks before Tom's death. During that time, Hudson repeatedly leaned on Jonathan—then the president of Post 84, Hudson's outdoors club—as his personal crisis counselor. Jonathan reveals he’s also wondered if he’s to blame for Hudson’s death. This is the closest Isolde’s ever come to understanding what happened to Hudson in the weeks between his leave of absence and his suicide. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741-741. Please take care while listening.  Get in touch with the team by email at focus@kuow.org. Support KUOW and projects like this by donating at kuow.org/donate/focus. Adults in the Room is part of FOCUS, a dedicated documentary channel from KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR network. It is hosted by Isolde Raftery. Original reporting by Isolde Raftery, Jeannie Yandel, and Will James. Our producers are Will James and Alec Cowan. Our editor is Jeannie Yandel. Music by BC Campbell. Additional music by Alec Cowan. A special thank you to Ella Hushagen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The school district sends an investigator to Garfield to look into the allegations against Tom Hudson. Isolde and Ella feel like the entire school blames them for Hudson's suspension and the new inquiry into his behavior with students. The investigator questions Isolde and fellow reporter Rosie Bancroft again and again as the Post 84 community closes ranks and refuses to talk.  Months go by as Isolde and Ella anxiously wait for the results of the investigation. As their lives at school become darker and tension-filled, they wonder: Did they do the right thing, or blow up a respected teacher's reputation over a falsehood?  Then, a sudden tragedy changes the course of the investigation and shakes the Garfield community. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741-741.  Get in touch with the team by email at focus@kuow.org. Support KUOW and projects like this by donating at kuow.org/donate/focus. Adults in the Room is part of FOCUS, a dedicated documentary channel from KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR network. It is hosted by Isolde Raftery. Original reporting by Isolde Raftery, Jeannie Yandel, and Will James. Our producers are Will James and Alec Cowan. Our editor is Jeannie Yandel. Music by BC Campbell. Additional music by Alec Cowan. A special thank you to Ella Hushagen, Rosie Bancroft, and Maria Coryell-Martin.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Garfield High School is shocked after learning their beloved principal is in an inappropriate relationship with a student. In the fallout of the revelation about their principal, Isolde and Ella hear a second-hand allegation of child abuse against teacher Tom Hudson from a member of his outdoors club, Post 84. The students debate what they should do and decide to bring the allegation to their journalism teacher, Dave Ehrich, and Isolde’s parents.  Nothing happens. Isolde and Ella publish a different, anonymized allegation in The Messenger. Hudson is suspended shortly after, and Ella and Isolde wonder if it was because of their story. Dave Ehrich accuses Isolde and Ella of publishing unfounded rumors about Hudson, and demands they resign from the paper. Get in touch with the team by email at focus@kuow.org. Support KUOW and projects like this by donating at kuow.org/donate/focus. Adults in the Room is part of FOCUS, a dedicated documentary channel from KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR network. It is hosted by Isolde Raftery. Original reporting by Isolde Raftery, Jeannie Yandel, Ella Hushagen, and Will James. Our producers are Will James and Alec Cowan. Our editor is Jeannie Yandel. Music by BC Campbell. Additional music by Alec Cowan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.