Former Oak Creek Teacher Had Sex With Student In Classroom: Police

OAK CREEK, WI — A 22-year-old former Oak Creek High School teacher faces criminal charges after prosecutors allege that the teacher had an inappropriate relationship with a 14-year-old student at the school.

Rachel Goodle has been charged with second-degree sexual assault of a child and sexual assault of a student by school staff, according to the criminal complaint filed with the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office. If convicted of the charges, she could face more than 40 years in prison.

In a statement, the victim’s attorney says that charges against Goodle were filed on July 20 and it marks the second time in six years that charges have been filed against an Oak Creek High School teacher for sexual assault.

“An investigation directed at the highest levels of the Oak Creek-Franklin School District ("OCFSD"), including the superintendent and school board, must be completed,” the attorney’s statement said. The statement asks for privacy for the victim and his family.

The criminal complaint states that Goodle was suspended by school officials for having an inappropriate relationship with the 14-year-old student, based on interviews with students and surveillance footage from the school. The criminal complaint says that surveillance footage showed what appears to be a “close relationship” between Goodle and the student, with whom investigators said she spent an “inordinate amount of time”.

The two sat together at a school sporting event away from the student section, the complaint states, and on Dec. 2, 2022, video footage shows Goodle leaving the school. Footage shows her and the student leaving her classroom and shows her leaving the school around 3:45 p.m. while the student remains.

Goodle then returned wearing a dress at 4:45 p.m. and surveillance footage shows her and the student entering her classroom. Once the door closes at 4:49 p.m., no one else is seen entering the classroom, according to the criminal complaint. The door remains closed until 5:07 p.m. when a custodian opens the classroom door.

The door remains open until 5:42 p.m. when surveillance footage shows the teacher and student leaving the classroom as they are seen going to watch a basketball game at the school. Footage shows them sitting apart from the student section, and they are seen sitting closely together and leaning in to talk, according to the complaint.

Police said that they spoke with the student, who was asked if there was any inappropriate touching between him and Goodle, and the victim told the officer that “something did happen."

Police said rumors had existed for months about an inappropriate relationship between the two. When asked specifically about the December date when he was seen entering Goodle’s classroom, the victim told police that they were in her classroom talking about past relationships.

The complaint states that during the conversation, Goodle became emotional and that the student handed her a tissue. According to the complaint, Goodle then touched his arm and began to unbutton her dress. She then touched his knee and led him to the back of the classroom, where the two engaged in sex, the complaint said.

The student describes the incident as the only time the two had sex and that he was “shocked” and didn’t know how to respond before it took place.

A district spokeswoman said on Tuesday that Goodle is no longer employed by the district. In a statement to local parents issued on Tuesday, Oak Creek-Franklin district officials called the allegations against the former teacher "reprehensible.

"The Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District will continue to work together with the Oak Creek Police Department in every way we can," the statement said. "We are grateful for the community partnership we share with our police department."

It continued: "Student safety is absolutely the highest priority of the District. We have no reason to believe any other students are involved in this situation. However, if ever in speaking with your children, you learn of anything that may jeopardize student safety, please contact your child’s principal. We will immediately take action relative to matters that potentially compromise student safety. We stand ready to support any member of our school community in need. "