A long standing teacher in Miami has been arrested after an alleged victim spoke to the school’s principal about how she had been sexually abused by the teacher.
Jeanette Valle-Tejeda, 41, who has been with the Miami-Dade County school system for 20 years, is being investigated by police as information regarding more victims comes to light.
According to CrimeOnline, the teacher was arrested on Friday (March 26) and is accused of sexually abusing at least three minor students over several years.
The victim reportedly told police that she was first sexually abused by Valle-Tejeda in 2009 when she was a student at Henry H. Filer Middle School, Hialeah and then for four more years while she attended Westland Hialeah Senior High.
Details surrounding the teacher and pupil’s relationship were set out in the arrest report where it was revealed that they missed class at the same time on 11 days and reportedly showered together.
The report also said that the teacher “groomed the victim as a mother figure,” providing financial assistance and that the victim often slept over at Valle-Tejeda’s home.
A second victim told police that the teacher abused her for three years and asked her for phone sex while always reminding her to delete the conversations when they were done.
A third victim said she spent time with Valle-Tejeda at bars and restaurants while she was 17 but refrained from going to the teacher’s house because Valle-Tejeda drank too much.
Other details on the police report included a parent who complained about the teacher inviting students to her home in 2018 and giving them alcohol.
On Friday afternoon, the Miami-School District released the following statement regarding the 20-year school employee: “Miami-Dade County Public Schools is deeply disturbed about the allegations made against this individual.
“As soon as the claims surfaced last month, the employee was removed from the school setting and Miami-Dade Schools Police launched an investigation.
“The District will be terminating her employment and she will be prevented from seeking future work with this school system.”
Valle-Tejeda faces several charges, including sexual battery on a child and is being held at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Centre.