Granite, OK: A teacher’s aide from Granite, Oklahoma was hired and fired by the local school district within a month after being charged with the rape of one her students.
The teacher’s aide, Ashley Waffle, 22, allegedly began communicating with a 16-year-old student only two weeks after being hired by the school district. Once the communication began, it is believed by authorities that Waffle had invited the teenager to her apartment. It was there that authorities believe the two had a sexual encounter on more than one occasion.
Waffle is facing considerable prison time for the alleged offenses.
According to the Fox News coverage of the allegation, it stated:
“Ashley Waffle, 22, is facing two charges of second-degree rape that could land her in prison for 15 years after she allegedly engaged in a relationship with a 16-year-old student in the Granite School District in Oklahoma last month, KSWO-TV reported.”
After rumors of the alleged sexual relationship began to circulate among both the school staff and students alike, school officials reported the sexual relationship to authorities.
The Granite School District Superintendent, Missy Berry issued a press release. In it she stated:
“Ashley Waffle was briefly a Temporary Teacher’s Aide for the Granite Public Schools. Ms. Waffle was employed on October 10, 2022 and her employment terminated on November 10, 2022. Ms. Waffle is no longer an employee of the Granite Public Schools District.”
It continued:
“Granite Public Schools has been working with law enforcement on this matter and will continue to provide any assistance possible.”
Other Educators Arrested
It appears Waffle was allegedly quite the busy bee that month. She is not alone, however.
She is among hundreds of educators across the country that have been arrested and charged with various sexual crimes against students in just the first nine months of 2022.
Among those arrested include principals, teachers, teacher’s aides, and substitutes- most of them were males (80%).
The charges of those arrested ranged from single count charges of some type of sexual related crime involving students to far more complex, heinous crimes against students.
In a Fox News column covering the story, it discussed some of the more heinous charges from educators. It stated:
“Eugene Pratt, 57, a former principal, elementary school teacher and coach who taught at-risk youth in multiple Michigan public schools, was charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct in August. He is accused of sexually assaulting at least 15 boys and young adult men during his education career spanning several decades.”
School is supposed to be a safe haven for children; it is meant to provide a loving, comfortable experience. Students should be able to focus on academics while deciding what they want to be when they grow up. Is it also a great way to form lifelong, lasting friendships which will help socialize them for the real world.
Protect the Innocent
However, it some cases, it has turned into a gross opportunity for sickened adult educators to take advantage of the innocent. These disturbed individuals have used their positions of authority over children. Children are taught not to speak to strangers and to only trust certain adults, like parents, police officers, clergy and even teachers.
That is what makes sexual crimes against students especially heinous. These perverted educators are in a position to take advantage of the expected trust between student and teacher.
That is also the position Ashley Waffle was in when she decided, in very quick fashion, to take advantage of the trust of a 16-year-old student.
Now she, and hundreds of other educators, must face the reality that they simply cannot cross that precious, sacred line between student and teacher.
It is a line that must be enforced because the future of America depends on the education of our innocent children. Their innocence must be preserved so that they can take be properly prepared for the future.
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This content was originally published here.
