A biology teacher at a Catholic girls’ school in Louisiana was recently dismissed and arrested on allegations of engaging in a sexual relationship with a student and sending explicit texts and images.
Teddy Page, 29, was apprehended on Thursday, suspected of beginning a relationship with a teenage student last August shortly after starting at Sacred Heart Academy in New Orleans.
The police report indicates that the 17-year-old student reported sensing a “spark” between him and Page during an introduction in class that August.
Documents reveal that the two engaged in “private and intimate” discussions for at least two months, escalating to alleged kisses and sexual encounters in the girl’s apartment and her car in November.
Concerned about her daughter’s behavior, the girl’s mother noted that she had become irritable and withdrawn, often isolating herself during family vacations.
The student’s mother later accessed her daughter’s social media, discovering explicit messages exchanged between Page and her daughter, which included suggestive images. Following this discovery, she approached the principal of Sacred Heart to share what she had found, leading to Page’s immediate termination.
Subsequently, law enforcement obtained an arrest warrant for Page, charging him with sexual conduct involving an educator and a student. His bail was set at $15,000 during his initial court appearance.
Supporters of Page, who are family members, described him on social media as an “award-nominated teacher” loved by his students. One relative claimed that the situation had been “completely misunderstood,” defending him against the portrayal of being a pedophile or sex offender.
As of Tuesday evening, no further comments from the family were available. Meanwhile, Principal Gretchen Zibilich Cain stated that Page had passed a background check with no issues and that the school provides training to staff regarding appropriate boundaries.
“We are here for the students and families coming forward, offering resources and counseling to those affected by this incident,” Cain asserted.
