A beloved Mercer Island teacher was accused twice of sexual misconduct with students. The school district kept it quiet.

By: Moe K. Clark

Outlets: InvestigateWest

Published: August 11, 2025

Words: 3,083

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 1 day ago

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In March 2016, administrators at Mercer Island High School received a phone call from an anonymous Microsoft employee who reported that a teacher at the school appeared to be in an inappropriate relationship with a sophomore student.

Gary "Chris" Twombley, a longtime English and journalism teacher at the school, had sent the girl texts that said "I like the way you look today" and "There are things I can't tell you and have to wait till …

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