Police arrested a teacher and coach at Northside Independent School District in San Antonio following reports she was engaged in a sexual relationship with a student, making her the latest Texas educator charged with a sex crime involving a student.
Stephanie Woods, 28, a biology teacher as well as a basketball and tennis coach at Warren High School, turned herself in to police on May 11.
Woods was charged with improper relationship between educator and student, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison.
Texas Penal Code defines an “improper relationship” as a primary or secondary school employee engaging in either sexual contact with a student of any age or sexually explicit communication with anyone younger than 17 years of age.
The illegal sexual relationship between the teacher and student was reportedly first exposed by a friend of the victim telling a therapist, who then notified police.
When police questioned the victim, the 18-year-old girl admitted spending the night at the teacher’s home multiple times beginning in December, when she was 17 years old. The girl said she lied to her parents about where she was going.
Woods was placed on administrative leave May 5, after the district learned of the allegations.
Following Woods’ arrest, Principal Melissa Hurst sent a letter notifying Warren parents than an unnamed staff member had been charged following an investigation by campus administration, Employee Relations, Child Protective Services, and law enforcement.
Woods was released from Bexar County Jail on a $50,000 bond and ordered to stay away from minor children and social media.
State Board for Educator Certification records show Woods became certified to teach science in June 2019, and Woods’ Texas teacher certification is currently valid.
Texas Scorecard has reported on dozens of Texas educators accused of sex crimes involving students, and more “bad apples” are being charged almost every day.
