The Shalom Christian Academy, informed parents that a secondary teacher was arrested and charged with sexual contact with a student, specifically,  "corruption of a minor" felony charges.

School officials claim that once they were aware of the improper relationship, they contacted Child and Youth Services, and cooperated with law enforcement.

According to Pennsylvania State Police, they received a tip regarding the teacher. After speaking to the victim, it was determined the teacher sent several electronic messages to the victim wanting to meet up after school and encouraged the student to delete communications so that they would not be "found out". The student claimed that the messages led to physical contact, specifically, hugging. The incidents occurred between November 2023 to May 2024. www.tristatealert.com (Jun. 24, 2024).

Commentary and Checklist

Schools can help protect students by having and enforcing communication policies so that no teacher communicates about any subject not related to school and never without copying an adult.

In the above matter, the teacher sent several electronic messages to the student. It is not known whether the school prohibited such messages, but it is known that the teacher did not want the messages discovered.

What is odd in the above matter is that the school claims it contacted Child and Youth Services, but it was a tip to the Pennsylvania State Police that led to the arrest. Who made the tip and which was made first is unknown, but it is always a best practice to report reasonable suspicions of sexual misconduct of students directly to state authorities.

What are behaviors that indicate students may be at risk?

• A desire to be with children/students or one particular child/student without other adults present
• Goes to great lengths to build trust with children/students and adults around them
• Looks for and/or creates opportunities to be with children/students away from parents and other adults
• Provides gifts, money, or attention to children/students without parent, caregiver, or organization knowledge and/or consent
• Takes and collects images of children/students not related to them
• Acts like a child/student and does child-like things to receive attention from children/students
• Prefers the company of children/students to adults and/or is uncomfortable around adults
• Wants children/students to view them as preferable over other adults
• Fixates on one or a few children/students while ignoring others
• Gives special permissions, such as, increasing grades without merit, allowing students to sleep in class, or allowing children to bend organizational rules
• Asking a student to stay after class alone without other adults/students present
• Communicates directly to children/students online or other means without parent, caregiver, and/or employer knowledge
• Disrespects or demeans parents, caregivers, and other adults to children/students
• Frequently touches children/students, sexually or otherwise
• Makes sexual comments or uses sex speak around children/students
• Makes comments to children/students about their bodies or appearance
• Views, stores, and shows pornography to minors
• Provides alcohol or drugs to children/students or permits children/students to abuse alcohol or drugs in their presence
• Has coercive sexual fantasies
• Is impulsive and has antisocial tendencies
• Prefers impersonal sex
• Is hostile toward women
• Has a childhood history of sexual or physical abuse
• Talks about sexual activities regarding children, students, or teens
• Encourages children/students to keep secrets
• Requests adult partners to dress or act like a child/student during sex
• Identifies children/students using sexual slang terms
• Frequently visits places where children/students are present
• Loiters in places where children/students are nude, semi-nude or can be viewed without notice, such as, bathrooms and locker rooms