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As students head back to school, the San Jose law firm of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard is reminding parents about the dangers of sexual abuse by educators and urging parents and school officials to be aware of teachers who exhibit predatory “red flag” behavior, which almost always precedes the sexual abuse of a student.
Sexual predators signal their intent to sexually abuse a student by slowly crossing the boundaries established to protect students. The reality is that predators are not caught abusing children, but they can be caught breaking rules and crossing boundaries if parents and educators know what to look for.
According to Professor Charol Shakeshaft, an internationally recognized researcher, 4.5 million students or nearly 1 out of every ten kids are subjected to educator sexual misconduct. The sexual misconduct ranges from inappropriate conduct to criminal sexual behavior.
It’s not just teachers who are sexual abusers. It’s coaches, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, instructional aides, custodians and principals – anyone who has access to your child during school hours.
In California, the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) board minutes reflect that nearly 600 educators have lost their teaching credential over the last ten years due to sexual misconduct.
The Grooming Process
In public schools, sexual abuse often begins subtly – it’s called the grooming process. It might start with a teacher showing extra attention to a student, a coach who seems overly dedicated, or a peer who appears exceptionally keen on spending time with your child. This gradual build-up of trust and confidence is a critical part of what is known as the grooming process.
According to the National Center for Victims of Crime, grooming starts by identifying potential victims, then methodically working to gain their trust and break down their defenses. This tactic is not only directed at young victims but also at adult caregivers, including parents and other professionals involved in youth care, as well as the broader community. The grooming process enables the abuser to gain access to the student and establish a secretive relationship, significantly reducing the chances of the abuse being discovered.
Red Flags
Unfortunately, most educators, parents, and students don’t know the warning signs and “red flag” behavioral characteristics which signal sexual abuse. They include:
- Use of personal email, texting or social media to communicate with students
- Touching, tickling or hugging
- Gift-giving
- Preferential treatment or favoritism
- Spending one-on-one alone time with students
- Covered classroom windows or closed doors
- Dirty jokes
- Lap sitting
- Contact outside of school hours
The digital revolution has allowed predators to gain access to children as never before. Teenagers and even children have personal cellular devices. Texting is now one of the most popular ways for molesters to groom potential victims.
The Las Vegas Sun examined ten years of sexual misconduct cases by county educators (2005 to 2015). They discovered that half the cases involved private electronic communication between the teacher and the victim. Furthermore, from 2010 to 2015, 80% of sexual misconduct cases involved some form of private electronic communication. This included texting, email, and so forth. As a result, predatory teachers have been using text and email to groom their victims.
Ultimately, sexual abuse occurs in public schools because these schools lack comprehensive policies for preventing, identifying, and responding to abuse. This includes insufficient background checks for staff, lack of clear reporting channels, and inadequate training for staff and students on abuse and harassment.
Public schools sometimes fail to take appropriate action when abuse is reported. This can include not believing victims, failing to notify law enforcement, or protecting the abuser due to their status within the institution.
When Schools Fail to Protect Students
In March 2022, in a case involving a school protecting its image and reputation, attorney Lauren Cerri accomplished a notable achievement when a Santa Clara County jury delivered a landmark sexual abuse verdict of $102.5 million against the Union School District in San Jose. This case was centered around two former students who suffered sexual abuse at the hands of their music teacher. Of this substantial sum, $65 million was awarded to the client represented by Ms. Cerri. The jury assigned 80% of the fault to the school district.
Turn to Cerri, Boskovich & Allard for Legal Representation
Cerri, Boskovich & Allard has earned the prestigious Trial Lawyer of the Year award eight times, a testament to their exceptional dedication and success in representing victims of sexual abuse. Our experienced team has successfully recovered millions for survivors in various sexual abuse cases against public school districts in California, including:
- Evergreen School District in San Jose, CA
- Morgan Hill Unified School District
- New Haven Unified School District in the East San Francisco Bay
- San Jose Unified School District
- San Ramon Valley Unified School District
- Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District
- San Diego Unified School District
- Union School District in San Jose, CA
- Fremont Unified School District
- Jefferson School District in Tracy, CA
- Milpitas Unified School District in the South Bay
- Los Banos Unified School District
- South San Francisco Unified School District
- San Mateo Union High School District
- San Juan Unified School District in Sacramento County
At Cerri, Boskovich & Allard, we are deeply committed to supporting survivors through every step of the legal process. We understand that each survivor’s journey is unique. Our legal team offers personalized guidance, ensuring survivors are fully informed about their rights and the legal options available. For a free and confidential consultation, call 408-289-1417 or use the form on this page to email us.
