Warning Signs Of Inappropriate Relationships With Students

Alabama police arrested a schoolteacher and charged him with engaging in sexual contact with a minor.

According to the police, the parents of a female high school student became concerned about their daughter when she did not return home from what was to be a quick trip to the store. The parents found her daughter's car at the store, but could not locate the girl. Police later found her walking along a nearby road.

Further investigation revealed that the girl had met the teacher for a sexual encounter, and that the sexual relationship had been going on for several months.

The accused teacher also coaches boys soccer at the school and for a community club team. Brett Greenberg, Jeremy Jones "Faith Academy teacher, coach accused of having sexual contact with student: Mobile Co. Sheriff" www.wkrg.com (Mar. 15, 2023).

Commentary and Checklist

All safe adults who work with students need to be alert to signs that may indicate inappropriate behavior between an adult workplace participant, like a teacher, and a student:

  • A desire to be near students as much as possible
  • A desire to be alone with one or small group of students without other adults present
  • A preference of being around students over adults
  • Frequently visits places where students are present
  • Loiters in places where students are nude, semi-nude or can be viewed without notice like bathrooms and locker rooms
  • Wants students to view them as preferable over other adults
  • A hyper-focus on a student or group of students
  • Talks, writes, and acts like a student
  • Expresses a fondness of things and activities students like, such as video games or social media chatrooms
  • Ignores boundaries including, but not limited to, boundaries meant to protect students
  • Touches students inappropriately
  • Makes comments about the bodies or appearances of students
  • Provides gifts, money and favors to students
  • Provides alcohol and/or drugs to students
  • Produces child pornography
  • Sends sexual images of themselves or others to students
  • Solicits children and/or parents or guardians of students to produce child pornography
  • Takes and collects images of unrelated students
  • Makes sexual comments about students
  • Speaks in sexually derogatory terms about students
  • Overcomplimentary of the one or a few students
  • Frequently communicates with students in person or online without other adults present or knowing
  • Seeks relationships with students online
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