A video of a Brisbane high school teacher dancing in a classroom has surfaced amid allegations of grooming and indecent treatment of a child.
Chelsea Jane Edwards, 28, a sports co-ordinator at Indooroopilly State High School, was charged with two grooming counts and one indecent treatment of a child under 16 this month for her alleged acts on a 15-year-old boy.
Police will allege that Ms Edwards and the boy met up a number of times socially from July last year, when the grooming offences allegedly occurred.
The Courier Mail reports photos have also emerged showing Ms Edwards with her arm around the waist of her alleged victim, and multiple photos of them together at a function, an outdoor event, and inside a sports facility.
The photos posted to a social media account were taken last year in August, November, and December and show them with their arms around each other’s waist, and standing beside or close to each other in each picture.
Police will allege that Ms Edwards sent a photograph to the boy in September, which constituted the indecent act charge.
A former student said the video of Ms Edwards dancing with a student while at work has also circulated around the campus this week.
“In a classroom holding a boy’s hand, and the video is going all around (Indooroopilly),” the former student said.
The video of the dance is published at The Courier Mail.
It is understood that Ms Edwards has been on leave since being charged on March 10, and
there is no suggestion the boy in the dancing video is the alleged victim.
Indooroopilly State High School principal Michael Hornby addressed the allegation in a letter to parents and carers on Tuesday morning, describing it as “serious”.
“Some of you may have become aware of allegations of a serious nature involving an adult who has worked within our school community,” his email read.
“First and foremost, I want to reassure you that we treat the safety and welfare of your children, our students, as our highest priority at all times.”
Mr Hornby did not go into specifics, citing legal reasons. Still, he urged the school community to consider refraining from commentary on social media or other forums.
Support services would be available for students and staff, he added.
Former students have spoken out since the charges were laid.
“She was my maths and connect teacher … wouldn’t have guessed,” The Courier Mail reported a student saying.
“Bro, this was my grade 7 HPE teacher,” a former student said.
“She was my science and HPE teacher 4 years ago, never would have expected this to be a thing now,” another former student said.
“She’s not some obscure little teacher few people know about. Rather I’d expect almost everyone in the school to know who she is.”
On Tuesday morning, the Department of Education confirmed that it was aware of the charges and stressed the importance of student safety and wellbeing.
“The department acknowledges that the allegations are serious and upsetting for all involved,” a statement read. “We have been providing extensive wraparound support to the school community in question, and we will continue to do so.”
Parents and carers of students at the school said they only became aware of the charges through media reports. A man whose two children are in Years 8 and 11 at the school said on Monday night that he had not been contacted.
“No communication from the school to the parents yet,” he said.
“Bit surprised at that as I’d have thought they’d want to alleviate concerns before the news got out from other sources.”
The father said he was surprised when he learned that Ms Edwards had been charged.
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“The kids are shocked and saddened as they really like her,” he said.
Ms Edwards is due to appear at Southport Magistrates Court on May 2.
Indooroopilly State High School has a student body of more than 2500 and is one of the largest state schools in Queensland.
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