A safe place for victims to gather, share our stories, receive caring and support, learn about resources, and work together to create change so that students and athletes are not so vulnerable to teachers and coaches who would seek to sexually prey on them.
Primarily, a site for victims of Steve Escame, who taught and coached between 1961 and 2006.
On January 16, 2019, Rebecca Bomann came forward publicly to share her story about being sexually groomed by Steve Escame when she was 14 and 15 years old, when he was her high school teacher and coach. Rebecca’s story was shared on the cover page of The Seattle Times that day. Within hours, Rebecca began hearing from other women who had also been sexually pursued by Escame, and from their friends and family.
Stories of his predatory behavior began to emerge from every decade of Escame’s teaching and coaching career—from the early 1960s to the mid 2000s. Despite his constant and overt sexual pursuit of teenage girls in the classroom, as a debate coach, as a tennis and volleyball coach, and as an advisor, he was never stopped from having access to new potential victims every year—for 46 years.
In his victims’ lives, there have been devastating consequences as a result of his sexual grooming, advances, harassment, and outright sexual assault, that have impacted them ever since.
We have created this website as a place where those who have been impacted by Escame’s heinous preying of underage girls. Whether you are a victim, a friend or family member of a victim, a former colleague of Escame, or a previous student or athlete who witnessed Escame’s behavior, this is a place to find a community of support and care.
We believe you. We know this happened.
Because it happened to us too.
Washington State School Districts That Employed Escame, 1961 to 2006
If you were affected by Steve Escame’s predatory behavior, no matter how you knew him, we invite you to share here.
Complaints from parents and students about Escame’s behavior reached the Superintendent of Tukwila School District (then known as South Central School District) in 1987. The Superintendent at that time, Dr. Michael Silver, conducted an investigation into the allegations. He came to the conclusion that Escame was engaging in sexual misconduct towards students, and left a scathing reprimand in Escame’s personnel file on June 9, 1987.
Despite Dr. Silver’s written decision that Escame no longer be allowed to travel overnight with students without an adult chaperone, Escame continued to have unchaperoned access to minors for another 19 years, as a teacher and coach. His district-approved “chaperone” was a family member who looked the other way when Escame preyed on the female students and athletes.
As a celebrated teacher and winning coach, Escame used his considerable influence to avoid punishment or consequences for his sexual pursuit of junior high and high school girls for 46 years.
However, the victims of his predatory behavior have experienced significant consequences in their individual lives as a result of his abuse of them when they were young, vulnerable, and powerless.
Victims and Witnesses of Escame’s Behavior Speak Out:
“I’m so proud of you, Rebecca. I can remember telling my dad that this teacher’s treatment of you crossed the line. To this day, we thought he got away with too much. I support you and I remember.”
- Foster High School Alumna ‘93
“When I was in high school I had an English teacher who was an academic master and beloved by many. He was also a predator. I endured a year of harassing comments about my large athletic legs and my “curvy figure”, all comments made in front of the entire class. It was humiliating... Sadly, there were so many others.”
- Foster High School Alumna ’93
“I am a graduate of Foster (89) and had him as my English teacher in the 10th grade. The desks were arranged in a horseshoe shape for all to see when he sexually harassed me and my friend the same day! I was mortified and felt humiliated in front of my classmates! ...Still affected me years later.”
- Foster High School Alumna ’89
“I could not live with myself if I did not speak up and stand with a fellow survivor. I believe you Rebecca Bomann, because it happened to me at the same school with the same teacher— 17 years before you attended Foster High School. I also know there are many more of us out there.”
- Pam H., FHS Alumna '75
“I was a student of Steve Escame’s 8th grade English class at Olympic Junior High School. Should have been about 1962. Escame’s reputation for inappropriate behavior was, I believe, common knowledge amongst female students. I and at least one other woman have separate knowledge from those days about him.”
- Olympic Junior High Alumna
Pam's friend's letter
"Is he [Escame] still teasing you in speech/debate? Is he planning to elope with you after he retires??"
- In a written letter from a FHS Alumni to a 15 year old FHS student
"He was not working hard to hide it while it was happening. He was normalizing his behavior with us all the time, the comments about our physical appearance in class, pretty consistently."
- FHS Alumni
"We all were at the Aloha Motel in Bellingham for a debate tournament at Western Washington University. Escame came to my room, and in our conversation he said, 'I could see myself making love to you.' "
- FHS Alumni
"Escame took us to a tournament to WWU in Bellingham. He said there was only one hotel room available, and he had to share it with us. Then he said that he sleeps in the nude. All night I slept in my clothes because I was so afraid."
- FHS Alumni
"The school district never learned a lesson. This type of behavior happened under more than one administration and has been kept quiet more times than most would like to believe or acknowledge."
- FHS Alumni
"I was sexually harassed by this sick teacher in front of the class... This was such a mortifying moment for me... That moment changed my life, how I became self conscious of my breasts, and the humiliation I couldn't get over."
- FHS Alumni
If you were affected by Steve Escame’s predatory and behavior, no matter how you knew him, we invite you to share here.
We invite you join us in our mission to change the laws surrounding protections of minors from coaches and teachers who sexually prey on them.
Currently, the Washington State statute of limitations only extends for 3 years after a student turns 18 when they have been abused as a minor. This means that by the age of 21 and no later, they have to have the financial, emotional, and mental fortitude to take on entire school districts, and to fight against predators who have far more resources, power, and influence.
Use your voice. Use your influence. Stand up for students who are groomed and abused by their teachers and coaches. Join us today. (Hyperlink)