May 28, 2009 12:15 am US/Eastern
Teacher Accused Of Having Sex With Teen Resigns
Maria Hernandez Taught At "Our Lady of Charity"
Teen's Mother Also Under Investigation
HIALEAH (CBS4) ―
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Maria Guzman Hernandez, 32, is a sixth-grade teacher at Our Lady of Charity in Hialeah.
CBS4 News
A teacher at a South Florida Catholic School is accused of having sex with a 15-year-old boy. Police say she admitted to the relationship, saying she and the student had been sexually active since March 2009.
Maria Guzman Hernandez, 32, was a sixth-grade teacher at Our Lady of Charity in Hialeah. She was charged with sexual battery on a teenager just hours after she and the boy returned from a trip to Disney World over the weekend.
The school's principal wasted little time once the arrest was carried out.
"The minute we found out we asked for her resignation and then we took the next steps," said Principal Xenia Torres.
Hernandez is estranged from her husband and has two children of her own who attend the religious school. Police say they were surprised to learn that the boy's mother knew of his sexual relationship with the teacher and approved of it.
Detectives say Maria Hernandez would actually visit the teen at his home. This has led to an investigation by DCF.
"We are concerned about this type of behavior and with a parent. So we did what we needed to do," said Jacqui Colyer of the Department of Children and Families.
Late Wednesday, a juvenile judge decided that the mother of the 15-year-old boy can keep her son, as well as her other son, a 4-year-old. The judge also ordered that the mother under go counseling, that the two boys undergo a mental evaluation and that a guardian be placed on the home to help the mother. This means DCF will make unannounced visits to the home.
The mother said she thought Hernandez was a 'nice person' and was a good influence on her son.
Parents were stunned by the revelations of the sexual relationship. "It's really bad. I don't know how this happen right here," said parent Rogelio Medros.
Students had a noticeably different reaction to the news of the arrest. "She's an awesome teacher and I love her for who she is and I miss her if she's out there," said student Nicole Esparsa.
CBS4's Kimberly Chapin and John MacLauchlan contributed to this report
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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