A public school teacher was arrested on Thursday night on charges of statutory rape in California’s Inland Empire, following accusations that she had engaged in sex with one of her underaged students.
Tracy Vanderhulst, a 38 year-old math teacher at Yucaipa High School, was arrested by law enforcement on Thursday around 11 p.m. after police were made aware of accusations that she had engaged in sex acts with one of her 16-year-old students.
Vanderhulst was booked into the Central Detention Center, and her bail is set for $30,000, according to reports.
“Investigators and the Yucaipa Calimesa Joint Unified School District worked cooperatively to ensure a thorough investigation into this matter was completed,” deputies wrote.
It is unclear whether the alleged victim is still a student at Yucaipa High. Information about the case is sparse, and there is no known account of when or where the alleged offense took place.
Nonetheless, the authorities have indicated that there may yet be more victims, and locals have been encouraged to provide additional information regarding the incident.
Vanderhulst joined the faculty of Yucaipa High School in 2013 and within several years had distinguished herself. In 2017, she was recognized as the high school’s Teacher of the Year.
“Tracy Vanderhulst is Yucaipa High School’s Teacher of the Year as she epitomizes the educator so many desire to be- she is the kind and innovative teacher from whom we hope our children will grow; the educator who strives to engage all of her students from her intervention classes to her honors classes,” The Yucaipa/Calimesa News Mirror wrote at the time.
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