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	Ursuline Teacher Accused of Sexual Contact with Student Dallas: Report Filed on Ursuline Instructor, 17-Year-Old Student By Holly Yan The Dallas Morning News July 26, 2007 http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/072707dnmetursuline.2c122bf.html Dallas (TX) — An Ursuline Academy of Dallas teacher has been accused of inappropriate sexual contact with a student, school officials and police said Thursday. School administrators said they received a report about improper conduct in mid-June and called a state child abuse hotline. Dallas police said the man is suspected of having an improper relationship with a 17-year-old student that allegedly began with an incident Feb. 10. The offense report was filed with police Thursday, Dallas police Senior Cpl. Janice Crowther said. "The allegation is that this teacher became involved in improper sexual relations with the student," Cpl. Crowther said. "The teacher has not been arrested yet, but detectives have been investigating." The teacher, who has been suspended by the school, could face a charge of improper relationship between educator and student, a second-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Texas law states that sexual contact between a teacher and student is illegal even if the student is of consensual age. Cpl. Crowther said she did not know whether the activity the teacher is accused of took place at the school or off campus. The teacher, whose name has not been released, could not be reached for comment. It is unclear how many students may be involved. The school is conducting an internal investigation. "We're really heartbroken about this, and shocked," said Sister Margaret Ann Moser, president of the academy. "Our first priority is caring for our students and their families." The school sent letters to students' homes Wednesday, about a month after hearing about the accusation. Sister Moser cited the investigation as the reason for the delay. "This is the earliest we could get the communication out," she said. School officials said employees undergo initial and periodic background checks. In light of the recent allegation, faculty and staff members will undergo additional "safe environment" training before the coming school year. "We're doing everything we can to make sure this doesn't happen again," Sister Moser said. She said she is aware of one similar incident in the school's 133-year history. The Ursuline Academy of Dallas is a private Catholic all-girls school with about 800 students from grades nine through 12. Founded in 1874, it is the oldest continuously operating school in Dallas. Contact: Holly Yan hyan@dallasnews.com
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