Teacher Had Sex With Teen For More Than A Year, Stalked Him After Breakup

A Colorado middle school health teacher is accused of having sex with a teenage student for more than a year and then stalking him after he ended the affair.

Teresa Whalin, 28, was charged with sexual assault on a child in a position of trust, internet exploitation of a child and stalking and is being held at the Douglas County Detention Center on a $50,000 bond, according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. Whalin admitted to having been in a sexual relationship with the student, which included sharing nude photos and making fake phone numbers to anonymously call him, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by the Denver Post. The teenager, who was reported to have cut himself amid mental health struggles, was around 14 at the time of the affair in April 2023, as he was described as being 12 years younger than the teacher.

The student described the relationship as "dating," claiming he and Whalin exchanged racy Snapchat messages, had meals together and spent time with each other in her Ranch View Middle School classroom before he eventually cut off contact, at which point he claims she stalked him as she "struggled with the breakup," the affidavit states. Whalin would allegedly drive around the student's home and show up on his route to and from school, which he claimed forced him to take different routes or get rides with friends' families.

On Monday (November 10), the student told a school counselor about his past relationship with Whalin, who notified authorities, and Whalin was arrested that same day. The health said she believed using fake numbers to contact the student would lead to him reaching out to her for help while making her admission to police.

Whalin, who has worked for the Douglas County School District since July 2021, was placed on administrative leave, according to Ranch View principal Erin Kyllo.

“We are working to find a long-term substitute teacher for our impacted students,” Kyllo wrote in a letter to parents via the Denver Post. “In the meantime, the entire Ranch View Middle School administrative team will support our students and ensure learning continues.”