A teacher from California has been arrested after being accused with having sex with a student.
Tracy Vanderhulst, 38, who taught at Yucaipa High School was taken into custody on Thursday and booked into the San Bernardino County detention center.
Vanderhulst faces charges of engaging in sexual activity with a 16-year-old male student.
She has been charged with unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. Her bail has been set at $30,000.
Vanderhulst, who had been named ‘Teacher of the Year’ at the school in 2017, was married in 2007 and has two children with her husband, Justin.
California teacher from Yucaipa High School, Tracy Vanderhulst, 38, has been arrested on allegations of engaging in sexual activity with a student
A school YouTube video featuring Vanderhulst titled ‘In The Classroom’ is still online where she can be seen teaching a maths honors course to mostly freshman
Vanderhulst was a teacher a Yucaipa High School, taken into custody and booked into the San Bernardino County detention center on $30,000 bail
A school YouTube video featuring Vanderhulst titled ‘In The Classroom’ is still online where she can be seen teaching a maths honors course to mostly freshman.
In a now-deleted tweet, the school said she ‘offers up a rigorous mathematics curriculum and deep caring for her students.’
Upon receiving her award in 2017, Vanderhulst received her commendation with high praise.
‘She epitomizes the educator so many desire to be- she is the kind and innovative teacher from whom we hope our children will grow; the educator who strives to engage all of her students from her intervention classes to her honors classes,’ the school’s principal wrote.
Authorities say the Yucaipa Calimesa Joint Unified School District have been cooperative during the investigation.
Vanderhulst was married with two kids had been honored as ‘Teacher of the Year’ in 2017
Detectives are looking into the possibility that there may also be additional victims in the case and have released her picture in the hope more may come forward. Yucaipa High School is pictured
The Yucaipa Calimesa Joint Unified School District put out an official statement on Friday.
‘The safety and well-being of our students is our absolute priority, and we take these allegations very seriously.
‘Prompt action shall be taken against the offending parties, as well as any other persons knowledgeable of the allegations who may have failed to act. We want to assure you that should the District receive future allegations of this against one of its employees or any affiliated persons, such allegations shall be promptly reported to law enforcement, as all District personnel are mandatory reporters.’
Detectives are looking into the possibility that there may also be additional victims in the case and have released her picture in the hope more may come forward.
This is the third time in less than ten years that a female teacher at Yucaipa High School has been found to have had a sexual relationship with a student.
In one instance, in 2015, a teacher had a sexual affair with a student who was dating her daughter.
Yucaipa, located 10 miles east of San Bernardino, in San Bernardino County, California is a deeply conservative town.
Anyone with tips was urged to contact Detective Rachel Young of the Specialized Investigations Division, Crimes Against Children Detail at (909) 890-4904.
Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463).
