Hoffman teen: Teacher was like my godmother

A Hoffman Estates High School student who lived briefly with his teacher this fall until the situation came to light, went public on Friday, saying their relationship was that of a mother and son and that her interest in him saved him from foster care, or worse.

The 17-year-old senior, who organized a rally Friday in support of the teacher, flatly denied they had anything approaching a sexual relationship as alleged in a Department of Child and Family Services report.

The Daily Herald spoke with the teenager and several of his friends Friday across the street from Hoffman Estates High School. The newspaper knows the identities of the teen and the teacher, but is not identifying either one because no one has been charged with a crime and a police investigation is ongoing.

About 75 students gathered outside the school Friday morning holding signs in support of the teacher, who resigned Nov. 10. After the demonstration they came inside and sat down with Superintendent Nancy Robb and Principal Jim Britton, said Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 spokesman Tom Petersen.

The 36-year-old teacher has been out of the classroom since District 211 first got a tip about their living arrangements in mid-September. DCFS and Hoffman Estates police both launched investigations.

The teacher resigned Nov. 10 and the final DCFS report was issued Nov. 18, which said “abuse and neglect” had occurred, said Kendall Marlowe, DCFS spokesman. Marlowe said he could not discuss what constituted “abuse” and/or “neglect,” but added that behavior considered abuse or neglect by DCFS would not necessarily be considered a crime by police.

The teenager said Friday that nothing of the sort occurred during the month he was living with the teacher in her apartment. She is a caring educator who was there for him when he needed it most, he said.

He said he was going through a difficult time his junior year. There were issues at home, he got several traffic tickets and was arrested, although he would not say what for. It was then he started confiding in his teacher, he said.

According to her statement to District 211, she offered to tutor him in some subjects, and the tutoring continued through spring break and into the summer. She told 211 officials their mentor/student relationship deepened and came to a head when his mother decided to move away and the teen didn't want to leave.

According to the statement, after much discussion, the teacher agreed he could come live with her and he joined her in August.

The teen said the arrangement was kept secret from everybody, District 211 and his own friends included, because it was “too much of a risk” to her career.

Senior Erica Bland, who helped organize Friday's protest, said the students who turned out to demonstrate Friday knew they could count on the teacher.

“Last summer when I had a problem at home, I knew I could call (her) and she'd drop whatever she was doing and help me,” Bland said.

According to District 211 documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, the teacher told the district she talked with the boy's mother before the move, who agreed her son could live there.

The teen tells a slightly different story, saying his mother didn't find out he was living with the teacher until after he moved in. But she supported it entirely, he said, and even offered to hand her parental rights over to the teacher, if it would help the teacher's situation.

The mother could not be reached for comment and the teen said he and his mother are estranged.

The teen said his life with the teacher was structured. He said she gave him his own room, his own bathroom, enough meals and a car to get to and from school. He had to do his homework, help with the dishes and be home by 11 p.m.

He said their only physical contact was the occasional hug or kiss on the cheek.

“I didn't touch her, she didn't touch me,” he said. “Nothing, nothing, nothing. Would there be 70 kids sitting there for a child molester? No. I'm old enough to know if I'm being sexually exploited.”

Once, when she was helping him learn to drive, he says he asked her, “‘Why do you care so much?'”

“And she just said, ‘Why doesn't anyone else?'” he said.

When officials found out about the living arrangements, the teen was removed from the teacher's home. He said he's living with a friend but is still in contact with the woman he calls his “god mom.”

He added he is still getting support from the teacher's family, including her father, but wouldn't elaborate.

“If it wasn't for the (teacher's) family, I really don't know where I would be right now,” he said.

The teen said he wanted to go public to try to clear his teacher's name, but that the teacher did not ask him to do so. He said he didn't have a problem being named in the media.

He said he also hopes to meet with the Illinois State Board of Education, to tell his side of the story and try to save her teaching career.

Petersen said Friday the district has no further comment because the teacher no longer works there. However, district officials have said that a student living with a teacher is never acceptable, especially in secret, and whether or not there are allegations of sexual impropriety. The district said it had been planning to fire the teacher when she resigned.

Hoffman Estates police did not respond to several requests Friday for information on the state of their investigation.

Realistically, the teenager said he understands why a student and teacher living together could be suspicious, but in this case he hoped the school would realize it was innocent.

“If you know (her), and you know me, then you know it's not true,” he said.

The teen said he would do it all over again.

“I've gained more than just a teacher,” he said, “more than just a friend. I've gained a new family member.”