Update: How the System Failed the Kids in the Case of Drama Instructor Andrew Foster and Santaluces High School
In Florida, Santaluces High School drama teacher Andrew Foster, 27, faces charges in connection to having sexual relationships with two of his female students. Both were 17. The charges include unlawful sexual activity with a minor, child abuse, and transmission of pornography by electronic device.
He used his office, the school’s auditorium, catwalks, the theater’s control room, restrooms, and closets to have sex with the two girls. He would also send them X-rated cell phone pictures. Finally, he impregnated one student twice and signed off on her abortion.
The real tragedy was that the girl (known as D.N.) was in love with him and recorded this in her diary. It was not until she looked at Foster’s cellphone and saw that he was text messaging another girl that she confronted him. He admitted he was having sex with the other girl. That is when D.N. went to the police.
A faulty background check
Allegations of inappropriate behavior at an Indiana school did not turn up in a background check when Foster was hired. A teacher at Foster’s previous school, Washington High in South Bend, Indiana, accused him of exposing himself. No charges were filed, but school officials in South Bend did not renew Foster’s contract.
Palm Beach County school officials said they were not told of the charges before he was hired. In fact, Palm Beach County School District officials suspect that South Bend officials gave a Foster a good recommendation to avoid liability.
The only way to stop this from happening in the future is for federal legislation to be passed that would hold school districts exempt from lawsuits if they warn another school district about questionable behavior.
To get around this the Palm Beach County School District asks former employers if they would rehire an individual. Even so, former bosses can and will lie, so administrators are wondering if there are better questions to ask.
More information on this case
Two Florida newspapers, The Sun Sentinal and the Pam Beach Post have done an excellent job reporting on this story. For more on this story, see the following articles:
Former Santaluces High School drama teacher’s sex case raises questions, concerns
Documents suggest teacher impregnated teen twice
Post sues school board over records requests
Ex-teacher charged with witness tampering
Diary reveals a girl’s dreams and a secret
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