Former Teacher Sentenced to Jail
Posted/updated on: April 28, 2011 at 11:23 am
WOOD COUNTY — A former Mineola teacher, JoAnn Stephens, has been sentenced for having an improper relationship with a student. Stephens received 180 days in the Wood County Jail and 10 years probation. If Stephens were to violate her probation, she would receive an additional 5 years confinement.
The 43-year-old was arrested December 16 after a four month investigation into the relationship. Mineola Police say they started the investigation after receiving a complaint from Child Protective Services on August 4. The alleged relationship was between Stephens and a male student who has since graduated. Stephens and the student reportedly were communicating by cell phone calls and text messages on a trac phone that she provided for the student.
Stephens had resigned as an elementary and middle school physical education teacher at Mineola ISD.
