A California high school teacher was arrested Thursday for allegedly having oral sex with her 17-year-old student and sending him explicit photos, police said.
Trudy Hill, 32, an English teacher at Santa Teresa High School and resident of San Jose, turned herself in to police Thursday and was charged with oral copulation with a minor and sending harmful matter to a minor, the Daily Mail reported.
Hill had a sexual relationship with the student between August and November 2016, police said.
“Hill used her position of authority to exploit the victim into a sexual relationship,” said San Jose police Sgt. Enrique Garcia to the San Jose Mercury News.
The school has placed Hill on administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal investigation and the school district’s separate internal investigation into the allegations against her.
Only one alleged victim has been identified so far, but police have not ruled out the possibility that there may be others, the Mercury News reported.
East Side Union High School District Superintendent Chris Funk said Hill has been with the district for nine years and taught English at Santa Teresa High School for three.
“I was very blindsided by the allegation and very disappointed that it happened at one of our schools,” Funk told KGO.
Funk also released a statement on behalf of the school district in response to Hill’s arrest.
“We are shocked and deeply disturbed by these allegations,” the statement read. “We want to assure the community that the safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority.”
He added that the district is providing assistance to the victim and his family as well as cooperating with the authorities.