Ex-teacher charged with having sex with student

Autryville, N.C. — A former Hobbton Middle School teacher is charged with having a sexual relationship with one of her former students, authorities said.

Jeannie Michelle Hodges, 39, of 12237 Dunn Road in Autryville, was charged Tuesday with statutory rape, sexual offense with a student and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She was held in the Sampson County Detention Center under a $50,000 bond.

The Sampson County Sheriff's Office received a tip last month that a teacher had had an affair with a 15-year-old boy while working at Hobbton Middle in Newton Grove. Investigators determined the relationship started toward the end of the school year and that the boy had spent several nights at the teacher's house over a two-month period.

Hodges left her teaching job before the end of the school year, authorities said.

"Parents and other teachers cannot help but (be) feeling betrayed by Ms. Hodges' actions," Sampson County Sheriff Jimmy Thornton said in a statement. "I hope this isolated incident doesn't undermine the public's confidence in the efforts of the other teachers and educators, who work hard to ensure our children receive a safe and sound education."

Thornton told WRAL that the teacher didn't try to hide the affair.

"She didn't deny it and was pretty frank about it having occurred," he said, adding that investigators don't believe any other students were involved.

The Sampson County Schools issued a statement that said Hodges had a good record as an eighth-grade language arts teacher at Hobbton Middle for the past three years.

"Sampson County Schools is aware of the charges brought against Ms. Hodges," the statement said. "It saddens us to learn of such charges. Sampson County Schools holds its teachers to high moral and ethical standards."

Thornton said the charges affect the credibility of all local teachers.

"To be quite honest with you, this teacher let her co-workers down to be involved in something like this. It's not a true indicator of all other teachers that we have in our school system," he said.

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The Sheriff, the School, everyone HOPES it doesn't reflect on the other teachers and the school. I have not in years seen one official say they are sorry for the child/student. Children have no value in NC. These magnificent teachers are the ones who taught our kids and NC schools scored low in failing to achieve NCLB goals.. Perhaps if they spent more time teaching and less time offending - the childrne could learn. I AM SORRY FOR THE CHILD WHO WAS SEXUALLY ABUSED BY A TEACHER. THIS IS A FELONY. My prediction is the court will let her plead down and she will get Probation only. It's what usually happens in these cases.

Myra
July 23, 2008 12:16 p.m.

My child had this teacher in the 6th grade in another county and she was one of the best teachers she ever had...I am truly saddened by this!

jlvjohnson
July 17, 2008 11:30 a.m.

When I was 15 that was one of my biggest fantasies!

ltbarkley
July 17, 2008 8:12 a.m.

It doesn't matter how a child is dressing when it come to situations like this. The teacher is the adult and is responsible for that child's safety and wellbeing. The teacher has no business ever entering any type of relationship with a student other than teacher/student. She doesn't need probation, she needs jail time. She committed a crime. This woman shouldn't be allowed near children any longer if the charges are proven.

1Moms_View
July 16, 2008 9:27 p.m.

15 year old in 8th grade? My 12 year old is going in eighth grade and will turn 13. My 15 year old is a rising junior. She obviously took advantage of someone not quite all there.