HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. — A Ranch View Middle School integrated wellness teacher has been arrested by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) on multiple charges, including sexual assault on a child.
DCSO said 28-year-old Teresa Whalin, of Centennial, has been employed by the Douglas County School District since July 2021. At the time of her arrest on Nov. 10, she was working at Ranch View Middle School. She has now been placed on administrative leave, DCSO said.
In addition to the sex assault charge, she also was arrested on charges of internet exploitation of a child and stalking. The district attorney will determine formal charges.
According to an arrest affidavit, a student notified a counselor on Nov. 10 about an inappropriate sexual relationship with a former gym teacher, later identified as Whalin. The student was struggling with mental health issues in the 2023-2024 school year and Whalin begin offering support and hanging out after school in her office, the affidavit reads. Their bond "increased" and "they developed a relationship with one another," the document reads. It became sexual in April 2023. They also shared photos of each other and communicated over Snapchat. The relationship lasted more than a year, the affidavit reads.
The document says that Whalin drove the student to and from school for most of the relationship, and that the student's parents were not aware of it.
At some point, the student said they were interested in dating a classmate and broke off the relationship with Whalin, who "continued to drive near" the student's home and their "walking path to and from school," the affidavit reads. The student reported feeling fearful that they were being followed by Whalin, who they believed was "jealous" of the new relationship.
During an interview with authorities, the student described the relationship was Whalin as traumatizing, the affidavit reads.
After this, police went to Whalin's residence and arrested her. She admitted to being in a sexual relationship with a student for 14 months, and that she knew it was "wrong and illegal" because the student was a minor, the document continues. She was remorseful and said she felt manipulated by the student because she was trying to help them with their mental health, and therefore felt trapped in the relationship.
After they broke up, she admitted to going by the student's home to "catch a glimpse" and of using fake phone numbers in hopes the messages would alarm the student and lead them back to her, the affidavit reads.
She told authorities she knew her actions were wrong and that she deserved jail time for her actions.
Whalin is being held on a $50,000 bond at the Douglas County Detention Facility.
“We are working to find a long-term substitute teacher for our impacted students. In the meantime, the entire Ranch View Middle School administrative team will support our students and ensure learning continues,” Principal Erin Kyllo wrote in a letter Denver7 obtained.
Anybody who has information on this case is asked to contact DCSO Det. Clay at sclay@dcsheriff.net.
This remains an open investigation. No other details were available s of Wednesday morning.
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