Teacher who called 911 beaten

A teacher who dialed 911 to report a woman being harassed on Capitol Hill was in serious condition Wednesday after being punched and knocked down for his good deed.

Joseph Skillings, honored for his teaching at Adams Elementary School in Ballard, called police when he noticed a man harassing a woman at a bus stop near the 300 block of East Pine Street around 9:45 p.m. Sunday, according to the Seattle Police Department.

The man saw Skillings call the police and punched him, sending him backward to the pavement with nothing to break his fall.

Skillings last year was selected for the Golden Acorn Award by the Adams' Parent-Teacher Association.

"He is absolutely phenomenal," said Anne Johnson, the school principal. "We're all really stunned and horrified. Students and staff are sending cards, and we're standing ready to do whatever is needed."

Johnson said many students have had Skillings as their teacher for several years and are attached to him.

"He is a very dedicated teacher," said Ballard resident Jon Burgett, whose daughter is in Skillings' second-grade class. Last year Skillings organized a play in which second-graders acted out "Macbeth." He also took a dozen students to McCaw Hall to watch "The Nutcracker."

"Elementary schoolteachers don't do that every day," Burgett said.

He said that his daughter and her classmates know that there was an accident, but haven't been given any other details.

Skillings suffered a seizure and was bleeding from the back of his head, according to the police report. Police said onlookers tried to keep him comfortable until the Fire Department arrived.

"He was most likely attacked because he was calling 911," police spokesman Mark Jamieson said. He said the call was disconnected.

Skillings was in serious condition at Harborview Medical Center on Wednesday.

Jane Skillings Thompson, the victim's sister, said the support teachers and parents have provided has been comforting.

"All the teachers have volunteered their sick time if he needs the money," Thompson said.

"Parents have said they would help with meals and cleaning his house. It's amazing how people have come out in support."

Thompson said Skillings is responding to commands, but likely will need physical and speech therapy if he recovers.

"That's the best scenario," she said. "Who knows?"

Police are still looking for the suspect, who ran away after punching Skillings.

"The suspect was 'harassing,' which probably means just words, and was also characterized as threatening. It did not look like there was any physical contact (with the woman)," Jamieson said.

The woman who was harassed told police that she frequently saw the suspect in the area and would be able to identify him.