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According to Fox 13, Sarasota Police Department arrested a high school teacher for having an inappropriate relationship with her 17-year-old student at Sarasota Military Academy High School located at 801 N Orange Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236.
Michele Little, a 29-year-old teacher at the high school, has been accused of making sexual comments to the student several times before making out with the student in her classroom after school. As a result of the investigation, Little was arrested on Friday, April 26, 2023, and is now facing a felony charge of indecent, lewd or lascivious touching of certain minors.
Police said their investigation began after the school contacted them about rumors of Little and the student having an inappropriate relationship. The student told investigators that Little had made sexual comments to him many times over a span of several weeks. The student also said that he went to her classroom during lunch on April 17, and Little put up a testing/tutoring sign so only he would be in the room. The student said that Little closed the blinds once he came into the room after school one day. Authorities said that is when the student and teacher 'made out' for 10-15 minutes.
Attorney contributor Michael Haggard is an attorney who works to support victims of sexual abuse by high school teachers in Florida. He has a lot of experience fighting for survivors of school sex abuse and their families, helping them to get the justice they deserve by filing high school sexual abuse lawsuits.
"The duty of care required by a high school to prevent misconduct between a teacher and student is a very serious matter. A school has a legal responsibility to protect its students' safety and well-being, including providing a safe and secure learning environment. This means a school must ensure that all staff members, including teachers, are adequately trained and supervised to prevent misconduct. Schools are also responsible for responding promptly to any misconduct complaints and taking appropriate disciplinary action. If a teacher is found to violate the school’s code of conduct, the school should take immediate and appropriate action to ensure the safety of its students."
"Victims and their families should seek justice against a school for negligent behavior or failure to take appropriate action. If a school has been negligent in providing a safe learning environment, the student and their family may seek damages for any physical, emotional, or psychological harm suffered as a result of the misconduct. In any case, it is important to remember that the safety and well-being of students should always be a top priority for any school. Abuse victims can speak with an experienced attorney to learn more about their legal rights."
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