Paraprofessional Had Inappropriate Relationship With Student: Police

LAKE COUNTY, IL — A 38-year-old Grayslake woman who worked as a paraprofessional for Cyd Lash Academy is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a 16-year-old boy and spending time with him after school hours, police said Thursday.

Sandra J. Pardo, of the 100 block of Glen Street in Grayslake, is charged with two counts of aggravated battery (kissing), aggravated battery (back massage), solicitation to meet a child and child endangerment for allowing a child to operate a vehicle. She was taken into custody Wednesday.

Meanwhile, police are investigating whether Pardo has had any other inappropriate relationships with minors, Christopher Covelli, deputy chief with the Lake County Sheriff's Office, told Patch on Thursday.

Authorities first launched an investigation into Pardo after learning that a boy, who was under the age of 16 years old, was driving a car by himself on a public road, according to news release from the Lake County Sheriff's Office. In the video, a voice that someone recognized as Pardo's voice could be heard coming from the passenger area of the vehicle, police said.

An investigation into her relationship with the boy reveled she spent time with him after school hours and last week, gave him a massage and kissed him, police said. Detectives also learned Pardo kissed the boy in school in the past month, according to the news release.

“Children have the absolute right to be safe in the school environment and outside of school. The behavior of this paraprofessional is unconscionable and despicable," said Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg. "There is no doubt this behavior is condemned by the thousands of hard-working teachers and school staff from across the county. Our staff will continue our zero-tolerance policy for adults who victimize our most vulnerable.”

Police could not comment on who shared the video, where it was shared or who recognized Pardo's voice. But they did say Pardo's cell phone was seized by authorities on Wednesday and police are working to review the content of the phone.