Jasmine Edmonds, a 24-year-old former school teacher in Memphis, Tennessee, was arrested and charged after she allegedly had a sexual relationship with an unidentified 16-year-old student.
According to reports, on Thursday, January 17, Edmonds appeared in Tennessee court and was indicted on two counts of sexual battery by an authority figure. Edmonds was placed on administrative leave by the school district in March 2018 when the investigation was launched.
Edmonds was released from prison after posting a $50,000 bond.
The Gestalt Community School District, the district where Edmonds taught, released the following statement after Edmonds’ arrest:
“We were shocked and disappointed when Jasmine Edmond was arrested. She was a new teacher at Power Center Academy , and we performed a thorough background check last summer, which showed no indication of such behavior. She is currently on administrative leave from Gestalt Community Schools pending further investigation. Although we have no knowledge at this time that her behavior impacted any of our scholars, we are doing our own internal due diligence. We will fully assist the Memphis Police Department with their investigation.”
As for why there has been such a significant increase in instances of teachers having inappropriate 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.”
Hoffman 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.
That is all the information available at this time. This article will be updated with new and relevant information should it become available.