Latest news with #schoolcounselor
CBS News
4 days ago
- CBS News
Former Twin Cities school counselor recorded 13-year-old student changing, charges say
A former Twin Cities school counselor is accused of secretly recording a female student changing clothes. Jason Polzin, 50, previously worked at Maranatha Christian Academy in Brooklyn Park. He was charged Wednesday with one felony count of interference with the privacy of a minor under 18. Charges say Polzin allowed the 13-year-old victim to change clothes in his classroom prior to her softball game last May. The girl told police she had been changing when she noticed Polzin's phone was in the room and pointing at her. She allegedly checked the phone and saw that it was recording. Investigators say the victim reported the video showed Polzin looking at the door before he set the phone down and aimed it to point toward where she would be changing. She told police she felt "confused and angry" when she found out she had been recorded. The girl deleted the video and confronted Polzin about it, according to the criminal complaint. He allegedly claimed it was an accident. Charges say the victim reported the incident to school personnel, adding Polzin would give her rides and invited her to go on his boat. Maranatha Christian Academy says when it was made aware of the allegations against Polzin on May 23, 2024, the school immediately placed him on administrative leave and notified parents. His employment was officially terminated on June 3, 2024. Police conducted a search warrant at Polzin's Prior Lake home, where charges say they seized several electronic devices in which they found 52 photos of the victim, most of which had been taken in Polzin's school office. There were an additional 165 photos of the victim's face on a computer-generated female body, including criminal sexual abuse material. The Brooklyn Park Police Department says the case remains under investigation and it is working closely with Maranatha Christian Academy to identify and support any potential victims. "The safety and well-being of our students is, and will always be, our highest priority," said Deb Larson-Jarpe, Head of School for Marantha Christian Academy. "We have zero tolerance for any behavior that places students at risk and remain committed to fostering a safe and supportive learning environment." Polzin is in custody as of Wednesday. His bail has been set a $75,000 with conditions.
CBS News
10-08-2025
- General
- CBS News
Homeless Children's Education Fund delivers education, opportunity, and so much more
Homelessness hits harder when you're young. For high school senior Morgan Keller, she said she became homeless after experiencing abuse by her father. "I had come home from school one day, and my dad was waiting for me outside, and he said, 'Give me your keys,'" she recalled. Keller said she knew her world was all falling apart. "It's really sad that people have to go through this type of stuff," she said. "You know, you should be taken care of, you should see your parents as somebody that you can come to, not somebody you should be afraid of." So, her mom brought her to live in Pittsburgh at her grandparents' home. While having a tough day at school, Keller said her school counselor connected her with the nonprofit called the Homeless Children's Education Fund. "Ever since, my life has completely turned around," Keller said. "They helped me financially. I was struggling with getting basic necessities, like body wash, toothpaste, and they have provided everything to me." The non-profit's President and CEO, AJ Jefferson, said, it's more than providing bare necessities. "Education is the number one intervention," said Jefferson. Keller's involvement with the Homeless Children's Education Fund kept her and 1,100 others each year, clothed, fed, and most importantly, in school. "We provide access to a variety of different educational programs and instructors, to ensure that our students stay focused on securing their high school diploma and move forward as a transition into young adulthood," Jefferson said. Continuing education is key. When a child is chronically moving, due to homelessness or unstable housing, they see a regression of about six months in their education, but Jefferson said, HCEF's dedication to helping the homeless youth in our community means it is seeing a graduation rate of high school students participating in its programs, at about 90%. The nonprofit's programming even hits the streets with its mobile classroom called Winnie's Wagon. It's a van that brings teachers and tutoring to where students are. The nonprofit also introduces students, like Keller, to possible careers with the Teen CEO program. "They've helped me through everything, they've given me opportunities that I would never think I'd be at, like here right now," said Keller. It's one non-profit with 11 programs changing countless homeless children's lives. "You're not in stable housing; you're sleeping at friends' houses a few nights; you can come to them. They're great people. They can help you with anything. Take advantage of the resources you have," said Keller. The next step for the homeless children's education fund is buying another Winnie's Wagon, or as it'll be called, Winnie's Stream Machine. They hope to have the second one operating in March 2026. For more information on the homeless children's education fund and all its programs, click on the link here.
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Glamorous Pennsylvania school worker gets shocking sentence for 'raping' 14 year-old boy in his own bedroom
A former Pennsylvania guidance counselor was sentenced to just seven years of probation for statutory rape against a 14-year-old boy. Kelly Ann Schutte, 36, pleaded guilty in February to corruption of minors after it was revealed she had an ongoing relationship with the teen that started during a class field trip in the fall of 2022, during which Schutte sat next to the minor on the bus, court documents stated. Other charges of institutional sexual assault and indecent assault were dismissed as part of her sweetheart plea deal. The intimate ordeal, which was reported to police by the student's mother, began at Schutte's home, the student admitted. Schutte would also call the student to her office during school hours, resulting in missed classes at Pennridge South Middle School in Perkasie - about an hour outside of Philadelphia. An affidavit revealed that the duo's inappropriate relationship continued even when classes were dismissed for summer. Through apps like Canvas and Snapchat, the two kept in touch. Their interactions also took place in her car while parked outside of a local supermarket, as well as the student's home while his family was away, per court records. Schutte, who appeared in court Thursday with her husband for her sentencing hearing, must also register as a sex offender for 15 years and cannot have any contact with the victim. She is also required to avoid unsupervised contact with children, can never be employed as a school counselor again and must undergo psychosexual evaluation and comply with all treatment recommendations, Montgomery County Court Judge Wendy Rothstein ruled. 'As a guidance counselor, you were in a position of trust. You breached that trust on multiple occasions. You were supposed to offer guidance, and instead, you sexually molested a student,' Rothstein told Schutte. Their relationship initially came to light after one of Schutte's relatives walked in on her and the teenage boy kissing, per the legal filing. He then went on to tell his parents about his relationship with the disgraced guidance counselor. Police also discovered one of her earrings in the boy's bedroom, records showed. At the time, the Pennridge School District released a statement revealing that Schutte was placed on administrative leave. The statement said that the district has been aware of the allegations since July of 2023, which prompted the decision to place the counselor on immediate administrative leave pending the investigation's outcome. In response to the charges filed against Schutte, the school said: 'While we refrain from making premature judgments about the actions of the staff member facing prosecution, it is crucial to reiterate the district's stance against any inappropriate contact between a Pennridge School District employee and a student. Such behavior will NOT be tolerated.' During her hearing in February, Rothstein turned to the victim and praised him for coming forward. 'You are strong, brave and courageous. You are not to blame for anything that happened here. You did nothing wrong,' Rothstein said. The teen's mother also made a statement in court, sharing that Schutte's betrayal 'jolted' her family. 'When someone, who we as a society have deemed trustworthy, breaks that trust, the ramifications are great and far-reaching. We as a family have been jolted by this offense,' the mother told the court. 'The cost to our child has been substantial. Peace was stolen along with innocence and normalcy. The effects on both his reputation and daily school life are noticeable and inescapable. 'No sentence can right this wrong or undo the damage that has resulted. But consequences are essential in order for justice to prevail.'
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
DC mom says teacher used corporal punishment on daughter
WASHINGTON - A D.C. mother is outraged after she says a middle school teacher used corporal punishment on her daughter in Southeast. D.C. Public Schools is investigating the allegation of corporal punishment that allegedly happened at Sousa Middle School. A 14-year-old eighth grade student says that she was washing her hands after a science project around 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday. She says a male teacher invaded her personal space, told her to hurry up and the girl says he hit her with a yard stick on the butt because she wasn't washing her hands fast the girl says another student gave the teacher a brush to give to her. The teacher allegedly put the brush in his pocket and the girl claims he did that in hopes of her reaching into his pocket and grabbing the brush. The girl told the school counselor and DCPS launched the investigation. Sousa Middle School's principal sent a letter home to parents saying, in part, "I am writing to make you aware that an allegation of corporal punishment has recently been made against a Sousa staff member. DCPS treats any allegation of employee misconduct with the greatest importance." And the letter goes on to say "while I am unable to provide further details as these allegations are being investigated, I can confirm that the staff member is out of the building on leave and will not report while this matter is under review." DCPS has not identifed the teacher. The mother also filed a report with D.C. police and she wants them to charge the teacher. We will continue to follow this story and bring you updates as they become available.
