Student Safety
Ensuring a Secure and Supportive Learning Environment
A Commitment to Student Safety
As a single father to a daughter and a son new to this community, I was heartbroken reading the news this morning. I wish this had never happened, but this is the second teacher accused of misconduct since August. I’m determined to make sure it never happens again, because MISD is my only option.
This isn’t about blame, but identifying errors and fixing what’s broken so the system works to protect students and serves them better.
What’s been done since the last resignation in August? Have families been informed? Has a third-party review begun? We deserve those answers.
In tech, collaboration and transparency lead to real results - that’s the mindset I’ll bring to the school board. I’m running independently, without PAC or union behind me, to avoid conflicts of interest and stay focused on the only people who matter most: our students. Here I attached my speech to our high school students and teachers this morning:
Hi everyone, I’m Rob O’Callahan, a single dad with two elementary-school kids, including a daughter who’ll be starting at IMS next year. We’re new to Mercer Island and live in an apartment. Like many new families here, we moved for the schools, and public school is our only option. That’s why I care so deeply about you - the students our schools and district are here to serve. My focus is, and always will be, on the students.
The article that came out today was really hard to read, and it wasn’t what I planned to talk about, so I’m speaking from the heart: I know some of you don’t feel protected. I’ve spoken with many of your parents while doorbelling, and your student article, ‘We Wish We Had Known Sooner,’ hit me hard too. But today’s story hit even harder.
I want you to know that I don’t just want your voices to be heard - I want them to lead to action.
We need to understand what’s been done since the teacher accused of misconduct left in August. Have students, past or present, been contacted or offered support? You deserve those answers, and so do I.
If I’m elected, I’ll work collaboratively with the superintendent, administrators, teachers, and most importantly, with students and parents who bring these concerns to us, not just to the press, to make sure something like this never happens again. That means real transparency and accountability: clear protocols for investigations with third-party oversight to avoid conflicts of interest, strong anonymous and anti-retaliation reporting systems, and timely communication with parents when misconduct is reported. It also means protecting teachers from false accusations, ensuring every staff member receives solid boundary training, and that discipline is consistent and fair.
You deserve to feel safe, respected, and heard. That’s not just policy, that’s the foundation of education.
In my work leading teams at large tech companies and funding startups, I’ve learned that transparency builds trust and collaboration delivers results. And as a parent, I’ve learned that real change begins with listening and showing up for my kids. I hope I can earn your trust, and your vote, to help make Mercer Island schools a place every student can count on.