Harrisville, UTAH

An earlier story reported that two school districts in Mississippi have new policies that prohibiting text messaging and and online social network communication between faculty and students. Two very recent cases illustrate the necessity.

Harrisville, UTAH
July 9 - Despite being warned about boundaries and a discussion of "texting with kids," Brandon Fessler, 26, an Orion Junior High School teacher, sent 5,000 text messages to a 13-year-old girl.

The parents got stalking injunction against the teacher last August after begging Fessler to stop communicating with their daughter. He violated the order not to contact the girl.

The judge sentenced Fessler to a year in jail - not prison - for two counts of misdemeanor stalking. The State Board of Education revoked his teaching license for a year. If he wants to teach again, he'll have to ask for a reinstatement hearing.
Full Name: Brandon James Fessler

Prescott, WISCONSIN
Anne Knopf, 39, a middle school teacher, was sentenced to nine months jail - not prison- and five years probation for sex with a 13-year-old male student. The relationship between the two allegedly commenced via e-mail and messaging activities. She will be a registered sex offender for the rest of her life. Entry