A former educator with the St. Mary Parish School Board has been arrested and is now facing charges after allegedly engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a former student. Authorities say the inappropriate relationship began while the student was still a minor.
The Morgan City Police Department was made aware of a possible inappropriate relationship between a teacher and now former student that was reported after the St. Mary Parish School Board was informed of the alleged relationship. The teacher was placed on administrative leave and later resigned.
The relationship was believed to have occurred while the student was attending school. After an investigation began into the allegations, detectives with the Morgan City Police Department discovered evidence of an inappropriate relationship between Katherine Ramerez Alberado and the student. Evidence was uncovered that corroborated the allegations made.
On June 24th investigators secured arrest warrants for Alberado. She was located at her residence and placed under arrest and booked on charges of Prohibited Sexual Contact between Educator and Student and Indecent Behavior with Juveniles. She was transported to the Morgan City Police Department where she was booked and now awaits Judicial Proceedings.
The school district has issued a statement condemning the alleged actions and confirmed that the teacher is no longer employed.
The statement reads” In mid-May, the school administration at Morgan City High School received a report involving an employee and a former graduate. The report alleged potential employee misconduct that occurred approximately two years ago, when the former student was still enrolled at the school.
District leadership responded immediately by placing the employee on administrative leave and reporting the matter to the Morgan City Police Department, which launched a full investigation. Although the employee resigned just days after being placed on leave, the investigation proceeded with the full cooperation of the school system. As a result of the findings, a warrant for the former teacher’s arrest was issued today.
Superintendent Buffy Fegenbush said, “The safety and well-being of our students is our top priority, and any allegation involving misconduct by an educator is deeply troubling. This type of behavior does not reflect the values or policies of St. Mary Parish Public Schools, and we do not condone such conduct in any way. We are grateful to the Morgan City Police Department for their immediate, professional response, and we remain committed to protecting our students and upholding the highest standards for those who serve in our schools.”
As this is an ongoing investigation, no further information can be released at this time.”
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Morgan City Police Department Investigations Division.