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Parents, teachers urge Issaquah board to order independent review of Endeavor Elementary
Summary
Multiple current and former Endeavor Elementary staff and parents told the Issaquah School District board they have experienced a toxic workplace, alleged harassment and intimidation, and asked for transparent safety metrics and an independent third‑party investigation; petitioners said the petition gathered more than 543 signatures in 48 hours.
Public commenters at the Issaquah School District board meeting pressed trustees to act after reports of a toxic culture at Endeavor Elementary.
"This is not simply about staff morale. It's about the health, safety, and learning environment of our children," said Elizabeth Primo, UniServ director with the Washington Education Association, who told the board she represents Endeavor staff and said roughly 80% of the school's staff have left since the current principal assumed leadership.
Parent Bridget Chapet said a community petition circulated that gained "over 543 signatures, including 19 current Endeavor staff members," and demanded two immediate steps: the district publish current monitoring and safety protocols and metrics, and commission a third‑party review that interviews on‑campus staff in addition to reviewing allegations already in litigation.
Several speakers described fear of retaliation and questioned whether internal complaint pathways protect anonymity. Anna Shodice, a parent of a fifth grader, asked why the principal had not been placed on paid administrative leave while an independent investigation runs: "I don't understand why she hasn't been put in at least paid leave until an independent investigation has been completed." Former staff and volunteers urged more consistent district communication and stronger assurances that staff raising concerns would not be penalized.
Not every speaker described the same experience. Durja Lakshmi, a new paraeducator at Endeavor, said she has "only received love and, you know, compassion" and does not fear working at the school; several commenters asked the board to account for differing staff perspectives when designing any review.
The board did not take immediate action on public comment items during the meeting; speakers asked the district to respond with transparency, protections against retaliation and—if warranted—an independent investigation or clearer procedures for filing and tracking complaints.
