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NBC Philadelphia has reported that a high school teacher has been arrested for sexually abusing a student at the Mercy Career and Technical High School located at 2900 W Hunting Park Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19129.
On Wednesday, February 9, 2022, 30-year-old Barbara Corbo was arrested after a student accused her of sexual assault. The abuse was said to have occurred on December 11, 2021, outside of school. On January 18, 2022, the school was notified and took appropriate steps, including terminating Corbo's teaching contract.
Corbo was hired at the high school in August 2021. She taught 11th-grade English and 10th-grade social studies. She is facing institutional sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor, and corruption of minors.
Attorney contributor Brian Kent is an experienced school sexual abuse attorney. For years, Brian has represented school sex abuse victims and their families by filing civil lawsuits. Recently, he shared his thoughts on the legal options available to students sexually assaulted by a high school teacher.
"A high school's top priority should be the safety of their student body. By law, they must enforce a level of care to protect from preventable dangers, including sexual assault. All school employees should be fully vetted with thorough background checks to ensure that sexual predators or those with a history of misconduct are not being allowed access to vulnerable students. Students look up to their teachers with admiration and respect, and while most are upstanding citizens, some only seek to abuse their position and exploit children. A sufficient safety plan might include patrolling security in addition to video monitoring systems. These measures help to reduce the chances of sexual abuse."
"Sadly, we still hear of incidents where teachers or other school employees use their positions of trust to abuse students, both on campus and off. A full investigation should follow when a high school teacher is charged with sexually assaulting a student. A police investigation of the perpetrator will lead to charges and sentencing. However, the school should also be investigated for possible negligence. Too often, cases of abuse may have been prevented if the school had not neglected its commitment to protecting its students. Furthermore, if a school ignored past teacher misconduct complaints, they could be deemed liable for their failure to prevent further abuse. If negligence was a factor in the case, the victims and their families might file a lawsuit against the school or school district. Victims sexually assaulted by a high school teacher are encouraged to consult with an experienced school sexual abuse attorney."
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