SANTA FE, Texas – A former Santa Fe Independent School District teacher is accused of having sex with two students over the last year and a half.
Kelsey Leigh Gutierrez, 25, is charged with three counts of improper relationship between educator and student. Prosecutors said there were two victims, but three different sexual acts were performed.
Gutierrez was an English teacher at Santa Fe High School, but was terminated on Nov. 18 after an investigation that began with a tip to authorities, prosecutors said.
According to court documents, Gutierrez met with the 18-year-old Santa Fe High student around midnight Nov. 12 in the parking lot of the student's residence. The two began kissing in the front seat of her car, then climbed into the back seat to have sex, investigators said.
Four days later, Gutierrez went to the student's residence and had sex in his bedroom, court records show.
Investigators said Gutierrez admitted to having a sexual relationship with the student, and that they found evidence on both of their phones about meeting times and the student's sexual performance.
Court documents state that in 2015 Gutierrez had a sexual relationship with another teen, who was still enrolled as a student at Santa Fe High School at the time.
In May 2015, Gutierrez picked up the second student in her car, and they drove to a gas station parking lot, where they kissed in her car, according to prosecutors.
A few weeks later, court documents said Gutierrez picked up the second student and parked on the side of the road, where they made out in her car.
The two hooked up again at the second student's residence, investigators said.
Gutierrez and the second student met up a few months later and hooked up for a fourth time, according to court documents.
Gutierrez began working for SFISD as an educational aide in 2014, and was hired as a teacher beginning in the 2015 school year.
File: SFISD Letter to Parents Nov. 28, 2016
A letter was sent home Monday to parents of students in her class.
According to the SFISD website, Gutierrez grew up in southwestern Louisiana, and went to Blinn College and graduated from the University of Houston-Clear Lake.
She also was a cheer sponsor at Santa Fe High for the 2016-17 school year, according to the school's website.
Gutierrez is being held on $45,000 bond.
Santa Fe ISD issued a statement to KPRC 2 News that read, "Santa Fe ISD became aware that a former high school teacher was arrested Monday, Nov. 28, 2016, in connection with allegations that she may have engaged in an improper relationship with a student. As soon as the District learned of the allegations, an internal investigation began including campus administrators and the District police department, and the teacher's employment with the District ended.
"We want you to know that we take very seriously any concerns that relate to the well-being of each of our students and our first priority is the safety and education of our students in our district. We will continue to work in cooperation with law enforcement and the District Attorney's office. Inappropriate actions by teachers will never be acceptable in this district."