Teacher gave student weed before sex acts at her parent's house, PA cops say
Michelle Mercogliano, who was in her first year teaching at Conestoga High School, faces sexual assault charges following the alleged months-long relationship with a student, the Chester County District Attorney's Office said in an April 30 post on Facebook.
She was 'immediately' placed on leave and no longer has access to schools in the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District, Superintendent Dr. Richard Gusick said.
According to an affidavit obtained by WPVI, Mercogliano began 'surreptitiously' communicating with the victim through Snapchat. Their 'sexual relationship' began in February, the district attorney's office said.
Police said Mercogliano, 35, gave the student marijuana, and they engaged in sex acts about 12 times, according to WFMZ.
The criminal complaint states many of those sexual encounters occurred at Mercogliano's parent's home in Wayne, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Mercogliano faces 63 charges, including multiple counts each of sexual contact with a student, unlawful contact with a minor and endangering the welfare of children, according to court records. She was arrested April 30.
Tredyffrin Township Police Department Police Chief Michael Beaty called Mercogliano's actions 'calculated' and said they were 'shocking and disturbing.'
Additionally, she 'destroyed the trust' of parents and students at the school, according to Chester County District Attorney Christopher L. de Barrena-Sarobe.
Before teaching at Conestoga, Mercogliano taught at Hillside Elementary School from 2019 to 2024, school district officials said. She was also a paraprofessional from 2014 to 2018 at Hillside Elementary and Valley Forge Elementary Schools.
'We are deeply troubled by these allegations. The District remains committed to providing a safe and supportive school environment for all students,' Gusick said, adding that the district has cooperated with the investigation.
Conestoga High School is in Berwyn, about a 25-mile drive northwest from Philadelphia.
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