Teacher of the Year is accused of having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student in Southern California – the third such case at the same school in less than 10 years
- Tracy Vanderhulst, 38, has been arrested on charges of engaging in sexual activity with a student.
- The Yucaipa High School teacher in California was booked into the San Bernardino County Detention Center on a $30,000 bond.
- Vanderhulst, who is married with two children, was honored as ‘Teacher of the Year’ at the school in 2017.
A California teacher has been arrested after being accused of having sex with a student.
Tracy Vanderhulst, 38, who taught at Yucaipa High School, was taken into custody Thursday and booked into the San Bernardino County Detention Center.
Vanderhulst is accused of engaging in sexual activity with a 16-year-old student.
She has been accused of having unlawful sex with a minor. Bail for her has been set at $30,000.
Vanderhulst, who had been named ‘Teacher of the Year’ at the school in 2017, married in 2007 and has two children with her husband, Justin.
California Yucaipa High School teacher Tracy Vanderhulst, 38, has been arrested on allegations of engaging in sexual activity with a student.
Vanderhulst, pictured in her mugshot, is married with two children and was honored as “Teacher of the Year” in 2017.
Vanderhulst was a teacher at Yucaipa High School, arrested and booked into the San Bernardino County Detention Center on $30,000 bond.
A YouTube school video featuring Vanderhulst titled ‘In The Classroom’ is still online, where she can be seen teaching an honors math course to most of the freshmen.
In a since-deleted tweet, the school said it “offers a rigorous math curriculum and a deep care for its students.”
Upon receiving her award in 2017, Vanderhulst met her commendation with high praise.
‘She embodies the educator many want to be: she is the kind and innovative teacher we hope our children will grow up from; the educator who strives to engage all of her students from her intervention classes to her honors classes,’ the school principal wrote.
Authorities say the Yucaipa Calimesa Joint Unified School District has been cooperative during the investigation.
A YouTube school video featuring Vanderhulst titled ‘In The Classroom’ is still online, where she can be seen teaching an advanced math course to most of the freshmen.
Detectives are looking into the possibility that there are additional victims in the case as well and have released their photo in the hope that more will emerge. Yucaipa High School shown
The Yucaipa Calimesa Joint Unified School District issued an official statement on Friday.
‘The safety and well-being of our students is our absolute priority, and we take these allegations very seriously.
Immediate action will be taken against the offending parties, as well as anyone else who has knowledge of the allegations and has failed to act. We want to assure you that if the District receives any future allegations of this against one of its employees or any affiliated person, such allegations will be reported immediately to law enforcement, as all District personnel are mandated reporters.’
Detectives are looking into the possibility that there are additional victims in the case as well and have released their photo in the hope that more will emerge.
This is the third time in less than ten years that a Yucaipa High School teacher has been found to have had a sexual relationship with a student.
In one case, in 2015, a teacher had a sexual affair with a student who was dating her daughter.
Yucaipa, located 10 miles east of San Bernardino in San Bernardino County, California, is a deeply conservative city.
Anyone with leads is urged to contact Detective Rachel Young of the Division of Specialized Investigations, Crimes Against Children Detail at (909) 890-4904.
People who wish to remain anonymous can call the We-Tip hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463).
I am Sameer Shah, I associated with Elite News as an Writer, since 2021.