By admin 
PHOENIX, AZ (AZFamily) — Arizona’s top education official is criticizing school administration officials in the midst of misconduct cases involving now-former Peoria educators.
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Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne shared a statement regarding the incidents involving the Peoria Unified School District. Former Centennial High School teachers Haley Beck and Angela Burlaka are accused of sexual misconduct with the same student.
Following the allegations, Burlaka voluntarily surrendered her Arizona teaching certificates, and the Peoria Unified School District Governing Board unanimously voted to fire Beck. Peoria police have resubmitted charges against both women to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
Horne reminded education officials that schools must ensure that they are immediately reporting incidents, such as physical abuse, sexual abuse, exposure to dangerous drugs or neglect, for the safety of students and to obey the law.
“It is absolutely crucial that every school be transparent with the public about what happens in schools. There should be zero tolerance for people who don’t live up to their duty to report misconduct. In recent months, the State Board of Education, where I am a voting member, has disciplined educators for that kind of failure,” Horne shared in a statement.
Under Arizona law, educators are required to report incidents to law enforcement, the Arizona Department of Child Safety, tribal authorities if applicable, and the Arizona State Board of Education.
Heather Rooks, now former Peoria Unified School District governing board president, was voted out in a special meeting days after she criticized how district leaders handled the teacher-student sex scandal. Rooks previously told Arizona’s Family that she was “angry with school leaders” about the handling of the situation.
Arizona’s superintendent says Rooks was removed as president after the board opposed her attempts to have the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and State Board of Education added to the internal investigation of alleged sexual misconduct.
Horne shared that he is deeply concerned about the “events occurring at the Peoria district board.” He also expressed support for Rooks, stating that full reporting is legally required.
“There seems to be a terrible trend of school employees being accused of egregious breaches of conduct, including sexual activities with children. This is completely unacceptable and schools must do everything possible to ensure the safety of children. The exploitation of a child by anyone, but especially an educator or other school employee, is an unfathomable breach of trust and cannot be tolerated,” he added.
If reports are not made immediately to a supervisor or administrator, school officials could face misdemeanor charges of failure to comply, or a felony charge for not reporting a reportable offense.
Peoria police have set up a tip line to investigate the allegations against Beck and Burlaka. Anyone with information about the teachers is asked to call the tip line at 623-773-8132.
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