Metea Valley High School Choir Teacher Arrested For Sexual Abuse Of A Student

Personal Injury - May 4, 2022

Metea Valley High School Choir Teacher Charged With Sexually Abusing Minor Student In Aurora

AURORA, ILLINOIS (May 4, 2022) – A choir teacher at Metea Valley High School in Aurora has been charged for allegedly sexually abusing a minor student.

DuPage County officials are saying that the arrest came after the alleged abuse was reported in 2021. The Metea Valley High School choir teacher was charged with sexually assaulting a minor female student from February 2019 to June 2019.

The 42-year-old teacher is being charged with 9 counts of criminal sexual assault and three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. A full investigation into the incident at Metea Valley High School remains ongoing at this time.

Liability For Teacher / Student Sexual Abuse

Students being sexually assaulted during their school experience is far more common than many people realize. According to data from the U.S. Department of Education, around 10% of all students will experience sexual misconduct by a teacher before they graduate from high school. Female students and those from low-income backgrounds were the most likely to experience sexual abuse at the hands of a teacher. There are a number of steps that schools should take in order to protect students from sexual abuse.

• Teachers should be properly monitored.
• School officials should be trained to report misconduct.
• Schools should avoid allowing teachers to be alone with students in an enclosed space.
• Schools should train staff in sexual abuse prevention.

School districts in Illinois must take actions to prevent sexual abuse. In particular, they must adequately supervise teachers and other staff charged with the care of the children. They must also thoroughly vet teachers to ensure that they will not pose a hazard to children. They must also report suspicious or inappropriate conduct involving school staff. When a school fails to supervise teachers, doesn’t thoroughly vet employees or fails to report inappropriate conduct, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. There are many signs that parents should look for that could point to sexual abuse.

• Abused students may have a sharp decline in their academic performance.
• Abused students may start skipping classes or school altogether.
• Abused students may develop anxiety or depression.

The family of any student that is abused in school may have legal recourse through a civil claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. It could also, potentially, include punitive damages. Sexual abuse in any form is no small matter. Children who are the victims of sexual abuse are at a greater risk for suicide and chronic illness. A personal injury attorney can examine all of the facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.

Investigating Teacher / Student Sexual Abuse

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to the victim of this incident and her family. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what took place. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to help make Metea Valley High School a safer place for the sake of all of the students that go there.

Have you or someone that you care about been abused by a teacher at Metea Valley High School? Our team of victim’s rights advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that students are protected and that predatory teachers are held to account for their actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into an incident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.