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Who Was Supervising Teacher While He Was Having Sex In Classroom?

I read with interest a recent story reported in Orlando local media about a Seminole High School teacher who has been accused of sexually abusing a 15-year old girl four years ago.  The teacher has been charged by the State of Florida with 17 counts of lewd and lascivious conduct with a child.  It has been reported that the teacher had sex with the girl at his home, as well as approximately 11 times in his classroom at Seminole High School.

These cases are always sad to read.  First, it is appalling to consider the violation of trust that occurred when this adult teacher decided to have sex with this child.  There is no gray area here, and this teacher clearly should have known this.

As a lawyer who has handled my share of these cases in the past, I am more curious about what this teacher's colleagues and supervisors were doing while this teacher had sex with this student 11 times in his classroom.  As I have previously written here, organizations like schools and other youth-oriented organizations owe a duty to children to adequately supervise and monitor the adults that will interact with the children.  It is difficult for me to believe that this teacher could have had sex with with child in his classroom 11 times if he was being adequately supervised by the staff at Seminole High School.

It will be interesting to see what facts come out during the criminal case.  At this point, we don't know what kind of proof was offered against the teacher, but we can guess that it was serious enough that the State Attorney felt comfortable charging him with 17 crimes.  It will be enlightening to learn what facts come out about negligent supervision.