Rash of sex charges over teacher student relationships
A rash of allegations about sexual misconduct in Gwinnett County schools highlights how difficult it can be to detect and stop relationships between teachers and students before they cross a line.
Three educators in Gwinnett, Georgia's largest school district, have been arrested this school year on sexual misconduct charges. Police are investigating a fourth for allegations she had sex with a 17-year-old boy.
In most of these cases, records show, school officials learned of the allegations after a parent or student reported it. Georgia law requires teachers and school administrators to report suspicions of inappropriate contact, but experts say that doesn’t happen often enough, for a variety of reasons.
It's unclear how big a problem inappropriate teacher-student relationships are, because no one is keeping count. They are handled on a piecemeal basis here in Georgia and across the nation. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution took at look at the issue here and talked to experts who explain what happens when teachers cross the line.
About the Author
Eric Stirgus joined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2001. He currently writes about higher education and has assisted in the newsroom’s COVID-19 vaccine coverage. Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Eric is active in the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists and the Education Writers Association and enjoys mentoring aspiring journalists.
