NewsRescue
Hundreds of Chicago teachers and school employees were accused of grooming, sexually assaulting, and raping students during the 2021-2022 school year, according to a new report. The troubling findings were revealed in the annual report released this week by the Chicago Public Schools Office of the Inspector General (OIG).
Last year, there were 470 sexual allegations, including inappropriate touching, grooming, sexual abuse, illegal sexual acts such as rape, sexual comments, and sexual electronic communication, according to the report.
In 2022, the OIG’s Sexual Allegations Unit (SAU) opened 447 cases investigating teachers for possible sex crimes.
According to the report, “The SAU has made significant progress over the last four years. It has opened 1,735 cases in response to allegations made by students, alumni, parents, faculty, and others. It has closed 1,384 cases involving adult-on-student sexual misconduct and substantiated policy violations in 302 investigations.”
Only 16 sex-related criminal charges have been filed against Chicago Public School employees in the last four years.
In one case, a special education teacher was accused of grooming and having sexual relations with an eighth-grade student twice. Over the course of seven months, the teacher and student communicated 12,000 times via phone calls and text messages. The teacher was charged with criminal sexual abuse and pled guilty to one count.
When she was 16 and 17, a former Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) staff member had sex with a female high school student. The minor was given alcohol by the adult. The JROTC staff member allegedly sent the student hundreds of text messages, including one that read: “I’m all set to f*** right now… I’m not going to be soft either.”
When the JROTC member became aware that he was being investigated, he allegedly threatened to kill the student and her family if she revealed the abuse.
“The JROTC member was arrested and charged with eight counts of criminal sexual assault and one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse,” according to the report. “The employee pled guilty to the latter count and was sentenced to time served and four years probation, as well as being required to register as a sex offender. During the investigation, he resigned from CPS.”
In another case, a high school student claimed that during a driver’s education class, a physical education teacher exposed his groin area to her. The student reported the abusive behavior to other members of staff, who dismissed the allegations. According to reports, a staff member blamed the student for wearing provocative clothing.
A 15-year-old student claimed the same teacher sent her photos and videos of him masturbating on social media after she shared her experience.
“The allegations were referred to DCFS by the OIG, who notified the Chicago Police Department. The allegations were investigated by CPD, and the teacher was eventually charged with manufacturing harmful materials and distributing them to a minor “According to the report.
A high school junior was allegedly taken to a Broadway musical in Chicago by a charter school administrator. The administrator allegedly “slid his hand down inside the front of the student’s pants and touched his genitals” on the way home.
