ATASCOSA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Jennifer Goodwell, a 39-year-old female Charlotte Independent School District teacher, was arrested on Tuesday, December 11, for allegedly having sexual relationships with underage students.
Sergeant Albert Garza — the Crimes Against Children Investigator for the Atascosa County Sheriff’s Office — authorities arrest Goodwell early on Tuesday, December 10, in San Antonio, Texas.
According to Atascosa County Sheriff Soward, the sheriff’s office became aware of the allegations against Goodwell on Monday, December 3 and launched an investigation on Tuesday, December 4.
Following her arrest, Goodwell was interviewed by Sergeant Garza, who admitted to having inappropriate sexual relations with three different male students. Furthermore, the sexual incident allegedly took place between September 15 and November 30 of 2018.
Goodwell was a second-year teacher in the Charlotte Independent School District.
As for why there has been such a significant increase in instances of teachers having sexual relationships with students, researchers believe that technology is to blame.
According to a report from the Texas Education Association, smartphones make easy for teachers to privately text and talk with students and also make it possible for teachers and students to share explicit images.
SESAME (Stop Educator Sexual Abuse Misconduct & Exploitation) President Terri Miller echoed that sentiment, stating “before cell phones, we knew who our kids were talking to” but today, “kids have their own phones, they’re taking them to bed, and parents need to watch more.”
McCray has been one of many teachers to be charged for inappropriate conduct. Over the course of just a few months, teachers across the United States have been charged, tried, and convicted of various abuse and sex crimes.
The list goes on to include 22-year-old Oklahoma science teacher Hunter Day, 28-year-old teacher Megan Kotarski, 23-year-old history teacher Michelle Schiffer, 29-year-old Alyssia Marie Reddy, special education teacher Jordan Ondish and 28-year-old Samantha Fitzpatrick have all been allegedly carrying on inappropriate relationships with their students.
Most recently, teachers such as 29-year-old Haylie Smart, 25-year-old Alaina Ferguson, 26-year-old Amy Nowaczyk, and 32-year-old Laura Bucy were arrested and charged for similar crimes.