Brandyn Hargrove, a former “Teacher of the Year” from Texas, has been fired from Brazoswood High School following an arrest in late December related to an “ongoing relationship” with a former female student.
The former student, who is now in her 30s, claims she had a relationship with the 43-year-old Hargrove from age 15 to 17.
Hargrove was arrested on six counts of sexual assault of a child, four counts of indecency with a child by contact, and two counts of indecency with a child by exposure, according to KPRC.
The charges have no statute of limitations.
The arrest of Hargrove came after a two-year investigation by the Clute Police Department.
Former 'teacher of the year' Brandyn Hargrove is fired from Texas high school after she was charged with having a relationship with a teenage female student for years https://t.co/pos9pz45G0 pic.twitter.com/O3icfAzWGh
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) January 11, 2024
“Unfortunately, this happens more and more these days,” Clute Police Chief James Fitch said.
“Since that time we have other laws in effect, the improper relationship between educator and student was not in effect back then. But your kids go to school and you trust the teachers with that and then these types of things happen.”
Throughout the past few years, a handful of teachers have been arrested on similar charges, including 25-year-old substitute teacher Alexis Mercedes Boberg in Baltimore, Beulah High School teacher Kelsie Schmidt in North Dakota, Rancocas Valley Regional High School teacher Alexandra Reiner in New Jersey, and 50-year-old Florida substitute teacher Angela Jean Stanton in Florida. Additionally, Texas teachers Meredith Null and Edna Longoria were arrested on similar charges.
As for why the number of these incidents has seemingly increased, studies suggest that smartphones are the primary reason for the spike in illicit relationships, as it allows teachers to communicate with the minors without supervision.
According to a report from the Texas Education Association, smartphones make it easy for teachers to privately text and talk with students and also make it possible for teachers and students to share explicit images.