Alabama Teacher Arrested on Sexual Charges

A kindergarten teacher in Alabama, recognized as “Teacher of the Year,” was arrested Friday morning on sexual charges related to a local teenager.

Heather Ozment, 49, who teaches at Calera Elementary School, faces charges of sexual abuse in the first and second degrees and for having a child in a car or home for immoral purposes.

The Calera Police Department reported that Ozment’s alleged actions took place after school hours and did not involve students on school property.

Interestingly, she had recently received the Teacher of the Year award for 2024-2025, as per the school’s Facebook page. A police chief, David Hyche, emphasized the urgency of investigating all allegations of sexual misconduct against minors, noting, “What we do in law enforcement is not as important as protecting the most vulnerable people in our community.”

Ozment, who broke down during her arrest concerning alleged abuse of a 15-year-old student, was put on leave immediately after the April allegations surfaced. The timeline of the actual incidents remains unclear.

Local officials have partnered with Owens House, a child advocacy organization, to conduct forensic interviews and examinations of possible juvenile victims. There’s some indication that other victims might exist, which adds another layer of concern to the case.

The school district was aware of the allegations prior to Ozment’s arrest, but it seems the investigation was left to local law enforcement to handle. A statement from the school confirmed that the teacher was on leave for the remainder of the school year while the matter was being looked into.

Ozment was processed at the Shelby County Jail Friday and later released on the same day.