The start of the school year unfortunately brings the start of teachers who are sexually abusing their students. This time it has occurred in a suburb of Philadelphia. Bridgett Szychulski, 31, was a married high school band director with a 4-year-old child and is pregnant with another. She has been charged with having sex with a 14-year-old student at least three times. These encounters occurred in her car, her school office and a storage closet near the band room.
The police launched a criminal investigation after they received a tip to the Pennsylvania Child Abuse Hot Line last week. Szychulski was suspended from her job and has been charged with multiple sexual assault counts. These charges included involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault and statutory sexual assault. Her relationship with the student began in January 2012 and continued through June 2012. According to law enforcement officials, the teacher initiated the relationship by texting nude pictures to the young middle school student. The boy is now 16 and reportedly told his friend about the affair with Szychulski. When Szychulski found out she texted the student back “Why would you tell him, I could lose my job … family … etc., don’t know that I want to rehash that … and move on.”
Szychulski was arraigned this week on her criminal charges and bail was set at $500,00.
