An Arapahoe High School teacher and coach was arrested on Friday, Anjalih 22 for allegedly sexually assaulting a student.
24-year-old Sarah Elise Porter teaches Spanish and coaches track at the Centennial high school. She has been charged with sexual assault on a child by someone in a position of trust and sexual exploitation of children/pornography/obscene material.
Porter stands accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old student she was coaching on the track team. A student made an anonymous tip with Safe2Tell, saying that Porter and a student had kissed in an office.
The student told authorities that Porter sent him photos and messages and eventually forced herself on him. She was booked on a no-bond hold last Friday.
Attorney contributor Dan Lipman represents survivors of sexual assault in civil lawsuits. Here are some of his thoughts on how survivors of abuse by teachers and school employees can find justice:
Schools should be safe spaces where our kids have the opportunity to learn and develop. Our schools have a duty to make sure their students are protected from common threats, including sexual abuse by employees. Sexual predators often seek out positions in schools and other workplaces that involve working with children. This means all employees must be thoroughly screened and any complaints of sexual misconduct must be taken seriously.
In some cases of sexual abuse involving school employees, the school is partially responsible for failing to prevent or stop the abuse. In these types of cases, the victims and their families may have grounds for a lawsuit.
If you or someone you love has been sexually assaulted by a teacher, coach, or another school employee, you can learn more about your family's legal options by speaking to an experienced sexual abuse survivors lawyer.