Wredling teacher faces child porn charges

A teacher at a St. Charles middle school was charged Monday with possession and distribution of child pornography, said St. Charles District 303 Superintendent Donald Schlomann.

Jerome “Jerry” McCauley, a seventh grade teacher at Wredling Middle School, was arrested around 6 a.m. Monday by the Sycamore Police Department, Schlomann said.

Right now, officials do not believe any of the children depicted in the pornography were former or current Wredling Middle School students, Schlomann said.

“I have no knowledge other than what I’ve heard from the police,” he said. “They don’t have any reason to believe at this point (Wredling students were involved).”

McCauley, a teacher at Wredling for 19 years, has been placed on administrative leave by District 303 pending a further investigation, and he no longer has access to District 303 property, according to a statement sent out to parents.

On the school’s website, McCauley is listed as a seventh grade science and social studies teacher, as well as a seventh grade girls’ volleyball coach and the school sponsor for Club Comix and the Game Club.

In his seven years as superintendent, Schlomann said he’s unaware of any other complaints against McCauley.

“Right now our number one thing is student safety and making sure that our students feel safe to be at school,” Schlomann said. “We’re bringing in counselors (Tuesday) morning to talk to students if they have questions.”

Sycamore police continue to investigate.

Schlomann encouraged anyone who may have any further information to come forward.

“While we don’t have any reason to believe that there’s anything out there, I’m always skeptical in these situations, and we want to know,” Schlomann said. “I want people to feel comfortable calling and letting us know.”

Contact the superintendent’s office at Donald.schlomann@d303.org or (331) 228-2000 or Sycamore police at (815) 895-2123.