A middle school teacher in Colorado is facing criminal charges after police say she had a sexual relationship with one of her students for more than a year.
Teresa Whalin, 28, worked as a health teacher at Ranch View Middle School in Highlands Ranch, a suburb near Denver. She was arrested after confessing to police about her relationship with the teenage boy.
According to the New York Post, the relationship began in April 2023 when the student was about 14 years old, making him 12 years younger than Whalin. Court papers obtained by the Denver Post reveal that the boy was going through a difficult time with his mental health and was engaging in self-harm when the abuse started.
During the police questioning, Whalin admitted to having a sexual relationship with the student and acknowledged that they had exchanged nude photos. Her shocking confession uncovered a disturbing, year-long pattern of abuse that included sending inappropriate messages on social media and spending time alone with the student at school.
The situation worsened after the relationship ended. The student told investigators that he considered their relationship as “dating.” He said they exchanged racy Snapchat messages, went out to eat, and spent time together in her classroom.
However, when the boy decided to cut off contact, Whalin did not handle it well. Court documents state that she began following the student around because she “struggled with the breakup.” She reportedly drove past his house and waited for him on his way to and from school. This behavior frightened the boy so much that he started taking different routes and asking friends’ families for rides to avoid encounters with her.
Whalin also admitted to police that she created fake phone numbers to call the student without revealing her identity. She told officers she thought this would make the teen turn to her for help, demonstrating attempts to control and manipulate him even after he ended the relationship.
The truth came to light when the student confided in a school counselor about the sexual relationship. The counselor immediately reported the situation to authorities, leading to Whalin’s arrest that same day.
She is now charged with sexual assault on a child by someone in a position of trust, internet exploitation of a child, and stalking.
Whalin began working for the Douglas County School District in July 2021. She is currently being held at the Douglas County Detention Center with bail set at $50,000. Meanwhile, the school district has placed her on leave pending further investigation.
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