Focus: Adults in the Room

As Isolde looks through records on Mr. Hudson from Seattle Public Schools, she comes across a document describing a photograph of Hudson and two students at a mountain lake near Seattle. All three of them are naked.
Isolde learns that back in 1994, before she attended Garfield, this photo spurred a separate investigation into Hudson's relationship with students. But ultimately, records say the boy told investigators it was no big deal.
Years down the line, that changes. Isolde finds an email from the same boy, now an adult, claiming he was ready to go on record about how Hudson abused him. While interviewing other Post 84 members, Isolde discovers the student’s identity and interviews him. His account of grooming and abuse matches with Ocean Mason's ... with a surprise revelation.
Today, he, Ocean, and Jonathan Hill know that Tom has influenced who they are, for good and for ill. So how do they make sense of that influence now?
This episode includes graphic descriptions of animal cruelty and sexual abuse. If you or someone you know needs support, text the word HOPE to 64673. If you live in King County, you can contact the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center at 888.998.6423. Please take care while listening.
Get in touch with the team by email at [email protected]. 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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As adults, Isolde and Ella start re-investigating the question of Mr. Hudson’s guilt. For years, they've wondered if they spread unfounded rumors that drove Mr. Hudson to take his own life.
Isolde digs out a brown manila envelope containing the school district's records on Mr. Hudson, which she requested shortly after college. She tracks down the original school district investigator from 1999, Eddie Hill Sr., and the widow of Garfield's interim-principal at the time, Cheryl Chow. Both reveal things Isolde never knew ... but not about the extent of Hudson's misconduct with students.
Isolde realizes she must reach out to former members of Post 84. She meets with one former member, hoping they will connect her to others. Instead, they reveal a deeply held story of abuse.
This episode includes graphic descriptions of sexual abuse. If you or someone you know needs support, text the word HOPE to 64673. Please take care while listening.
Get in touch with the team by email at [email protected]. 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, Ella Hushagen, 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, Maria Coryell-Martin, and the King County Prosecutor's Office.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. 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.