Aunte Margie Obeng

22 September 2013
EDLDR 476
Paper #2
Paper #2
The nature of teacher-student relationships and what they should entail is a debate
we have seen time and time again in education discussions. This debate has been heavily
fueled by situations where people feel teachers are inappropriately conducting themselves
with their students most typically seen with teacher-student sex scandals many schools
have seen in most recent years. One of more well known cases involved former middle
school math teacher Stephanie Ragusa who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for
having sexual relationships with two students (Wong, G.). Her case illustrates this
discussion, norms, and ethical implications a sexual teacher-student relationship violates.
According, to ABC News, Ragusa met her first victim, a 14-year-old boy who
was assigned to push Ragusa's wheelchair around school after she broke her foot. Upon
meeting him, she told him he seemed shy and she told the boy she could help him
overcome his shyness. That same afternoon, according to authorities, the two had sexual
intercourse in her apartment. This was the fist of three sexual encounters they had that
spanned the 2006-2007 school year. Ragusas second victim, a 16-year-old, had sex with
Ragusa allegedly about 20 times, authorities said. According to CNN, evidence in the
case included DNA matches, love letters, text messages and gifts. Ragusa pleaded guilty
to three counts of lewd and lascivious battery in a March 2008 case involving a 14-yearold boy. She also pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful sex with a minor in an April
2008 case involving a 16-year-old student (Wong, 2010). The prosecution described
Ragusa as a master manipulator who sexually preyed on the most vulnerable teenage
boys, whereas the defense argued Ragusa was regretful and mentally disturbed
(Sanchez 2008). Circuit Judge Chet Tharpe who was both unimpressed with the defenses

Aunte Margie Obeng

22 September 2013
EDLDR 476
Paper #2
argument and Ragusas jovial demeanor in court sentenced her to 10 years in prison
and five years of sex offender probation.
Ragusas sentence was stern, but necessary in the sense that Ragusa violated her
responsibility as an educator and authority figure to these young boys and she also broke
the law and Ragusas decision to pursue a sexual relationship with her two victims
violated Floridas statutes against lewdness as well as unlawful sexual activity with a
minor. Title XLVI, Chapter 800.4 states a person who commits lewd or lascivious
conduct as a person who intentionally touches a person under 16 years of age in a lewd or
lascivious manner; or Solicits a person under 16 years of age to commit a lewd or
lascivious act. Chapter 794.05 also speaks of Unlawful sexual activity with certain
minors as a person 24 years of age or older who engages in sexual activity with a person
16 or 17 years of age. Ragusa was guilty of both. Although the State of Florida does not
have an actual written form of legislation or policies that specifically targets teacherstudent sexual conduct, Florida does have many different codes of ethics and professional
conduct statutes. In addition, teachers are government employees state employees to be
exact, and must adhere to the law. Ragusa violated the law, therefore her suspension and
firing were both called for.
Schools are places where students come to learn in a safe, friendly, and healthy
environment. School administration and staff do their best to ensure that there us not
any violation or disruption of that creates an unsafe situation for both teachers and
students. Therefore, It is beyond unethical teachers will avoid having inappropriate
sexual conduct. Although Ragusa said, "I never intended to harm anyone," (Martinez,
2010), both her community and Judge Tharpe noted her responsibility to the safety

Aunte Margie Obeng

22 September 2013
EDLDR 476
Paper #2
and well being of her students. "You were a teacher," Tharpe said. "And as parents,
we place our trust in teachers to provide a safe environment in which our children can
learn. You violated that trust in the worst imaginable way. You preyed on these young
boys..." (Sanchez, 2010). As a teacher, Ragusa had an obligation to her community,
herself, and her students. There is a reason for the creation and implementation of
legislation concerning minors; to protect them. Section 6A-10.081 Principles of
Professional Conduct for the Education profession in Florida , one of the obligations
of a teacher is to not exploit a relationship with a student for personal gain or
advantage. Her victims were young, and at that age, highly impressionable and easily
manipulated, and she indeed preyed on them for her own selfish gains.

Aunte Margie Obeng

22 September 2013
EDLDR 476
Paper #2
Bibliography
1. Wong , G. (2010, April 12). Ex-teacher pleads guilty to sex with teens. CNN, Retrieved
from http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/04/12/florida.teacher.student.sex/index.html

2. Sanchez, R. (2008, June 28). Teacher stephanie ragusa sentenced to 10 years in prison
for sex with students. Retrieved from
http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/04/12/florida.teacher.student.sex/index.html

3. Martinez , E. (2010, June 29). Stephanie ragusa (picture): teacher had sex with
students, gets 10yrs in prison . Retrieved from http://www.cbsnews.com/8301504083_162-20009113-504083.html

4. Code of ethics and principles of professional conduct for the education in florida.
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.fldoe.org/edstandards/code_of_ethics.asp

5. Florida Statute Title XLVI Chapter 800 .04

6. Florida Statute Title XLVI Chapter 794 .05