Megan Kotarski, a 28-year-old teacher at a charter school in Chicago, was arrested on Tuesday, November 21, and charged with sexually abusing a 16-year-old student.
Kotarski is accused of having sexual contact with the boy between June 16 and 18 of this year, according to reports.
The Chicago Sun-Times says that Kotarski turned herself into authorities after an investigation began earlier this month into the alleged misconduct by the former Horizon Science Academy Southwest Chicago teacher. She is being charged with a felony count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a victim between 13 and 18 years old.
via Chicago Sun-Times:
Police confirmed that the charge against Kotarski stemmed from an investigation that began earlier this month into alleged misconduct by a teacher at Horizon Science Academy Southwest Chicago at 5401 S. Western Ave. in the Gage Park neighborhood.
“As the allegations involved a minor, the school contacted the [Illinois] Department of Children and Family Services and Chicago Police,” Christopher Murphy, director of strategic growth & PR for Concept Schools, said at the time.
The school’s administration began an internal investigation on Nov. 6, Murphy said. As a result of that investigation, Kotarski, who had worked at the school since 2014, officially resigned Nov. 10.
According to a spokeswoman for the Department of Children and Family Services, the agency is investigating the case and that the investigation is pending.
Kotarski is expected to appear in court for a bond hearing on Wednesday, November 22.
This is the latest in a string of teacher/student sex scandals this year. In November, Tennessee teacher Janet Smothers was arrested. Former nutrition teacher LaToya Parker was also arrested for a relationship with a student. Florida teacher Caroline Lawson was charged with sexual assault. 26-year-old Allyson Moran was also arrested for similar crimes. The 23-year-old high school teacher Katherine Ross Ridenhour was also arrested for an inappropriate relationship. Hunter Day, 22, was also arrested after a sting operation.
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