Trudy Hill, a 32-year-old English teacher at Santa Teresa High School in San Jose, was arrested Thursday for an alleged sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student, the Mercury News reports.
According to local police, Hill sent sexually explicit photos to the student, and performed oral sex on him. She was officially charged with sending harmful matter to a minor and oral copulation with a minor.
“Hill used her position of authority to exploit the victim into a sexual relationship,” said San Jose police Sgt. Enrique Garcia. The relationship is said to have lasted from August to November.
After turning herself in to police, Hill posted bail and has since been placed on leave by the East Side Union High School District. “We are shocked and deeply disturbed by these allegations,” a statement from district superintendent, Chris Funk read. “We want to assure the community that the safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority.”
The District said it would provide assistance to the victim and his family, while stepping up measures to ensure that its staff can identify and prevent future instances of illicit conduct between a teacher and a student, something that’s been something of an epidemic in the area as of late.
In the past year alone, there have been three other allegations of misconduct between a school employee and a student, including a 35-year-old interim vice principal who engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a 17-year-old female student.
