A 51-year-old teacher has been arrested after allegedly being caught engaging in 'sexual contact' with a student at a construction site.
Comal County Sheriff's deputies were called to the scene near Bat Cave Road in Garden Ridge, Texas on October 3, after receiving reports of a suspicious person.
Officers arrived at a home which is undergoing construction and allegedly found Jennifer Massey, a teacher at Davenport High School in Garden Ridge, in the company of a juvenile male.
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According to sheriff's deputies, Massey and the juvenile - a student - were engaged in 'sexual contact' when they were found at approximately 6pm local time.
Officers arrested Massey and charged her with 'improper relationship between educator and student'. She is being held at Comal County Jail, with no bond set at the time of writing (October 7).
In the wake of Massey's arrest, Davenport High School principal Angela Looney released a statement to say the teacher had been placed on administrative leave and would not be returning.
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Per News 4 San Antonio, the statement said: "Parents, the purpose of this message is to make you aware of a situation involving one of our teachers, Jennifer Massey.
"The district learned that last night Mrs. Massey was charged with having an improper relationship with a student. Mrs. Massey was placed on administrative leave this morning, and she will not be returning to Davenport High School."
The statement went on to assure parents that the 'safety and security of our students is one of our highest priorities and a responsibility that we take seriously'.
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Looney also made clear that the district's HR department conducts 'full background checks and criminal history' checks before hiring staff.
"I know it can be quite disturbing to learn that one of our teachers was charged with a crime such as this," Looney continued. "Please know that I and members of my administrative staff are available to address any concerns you may have regarding this situation.
"Also, if your child has any concerns or questions, our counselors are available to meet with them as needed. In addition, if your child expresses that something inappropriate has happened, please contact the Comal County Sheriff's Office."
UNILAD has contacted Comal County for comment on the case.
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If you’ve been affected by any of these issues or want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, the Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and receives calls from throughout the United States, Canada, US Virgin Islands, Guam and Puerto Rico.
Emily Brown