North Augusta, SOUTH CAROLINA

Thirty-seven-year old teacher and 14-year-old female student.

July 31, 2008 - Shannon Fowler, 37, a a math teacher at Paul Knox Middle School, was arrested on charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and enticing an enrolled child from attendance in school.

Authorities say Fowler was having an “inappropriate relationship” with one of her 14-year-old students since the fall of 2007, saying the two allegedly engaged in explicit conversations and that Fowler would take the girl off the school campus several times a week without the permission of the girl’s parents. Authorities say Fowler encouraged the teen to hide their relationship.

Investigators say the teacher spoke with the student throughout the day in person and by phone and text messages. Investigators say the conversations between the two were sexual in nature and even encouraged the girl to skip class to spend time with her.

Fowler is also accused of buying the girl a prepaid cell phone and giving her answers to a standardized test. South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) handled the investigation because Fowler's husband is a former employee of the North Augusta Department of Public Safety.
Aiken COUNTY

August 12, 2008 - Fowler is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 5.

CERTIFICATE SUSPENDED September 10 - The South Carolina State Board of Education summarily suspended Fowler's educator certificate until a due process hearing or the matter is otherwise resolved. PDF

No other online updates to the case.