New Details on Duval Teacher Accused of Having Sex with a Student

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- A Duval County Middle School teacher faces a number of charges after police say she had sexual relations with one of her students.

A judge denied bond for 34-year-old Jennifer Marie Collier this morning.

Police arrested Collier Monday night, charging her with committing a lewd act on a minor, lewd battery with a minor, and sexual battery with a minor.

Police say the victim is a 14-year-old male student at James Weldon Johnson Middle School, where Collier taught 8th grade science.

The Duval County School District says Collier has resigned from her position.

According to the police report, the victim told police Collier agreed to take him home after the students returned to school following a field trip last Friday night.

The victim told police Collier then took him to a Walmart parking lot, where they had sex.

The victim told police that Collier is a science teacher at James Weldon Johnson Middle School, and that he has had several sexual encounters with the suspect on and off school grounds.

Investigators say the victim showed detectives numerous emails that detailed the inappropriate relationship.

Investigators say the victim consented to the relationship, but because he is a minor and she has a custodial role as a teacher, she faces 1st degree felony charges.

Collier told police she had "a mother type" relationship with the victim, and that he came to her to talk about his problems at home.

Tuesday afternoon, parents in the carpool lane outside the school expressed their dismay in the teacher's arrest.

"The first thing that comes to my mind is that the teacher probably needs help. It's unfortunate something like this would happen, especially at a school like this," said Lynn Davis, there to pick up his 13-year-old grandson.

"My face dropped when I heard the news," said Pam Davis (no relation to Lynn).

Davis has a 12-year-old daughter at the middle school.

She also teaches math at Mandarin High.

"As teachers, they hold us to a higher regard. I remember those younger days when I was just a few years older than the kids I taught. However, [a relationship] was never a thought in my mind," Davis said.

James Weldon Johnson Middle School has a reputation for excellence among parents, students and teachers.

Jill Johnson with Duval County Schools says as far as the school district knows, this is an isolated incident. To their knowledge, no other students are involved.

READ THE LETTER THE SCHOOL SENT HOME WITH STUDENTS

Jennifer Collier has worked for the Duval County School District for four months.

According to personnel records, prior to coming here, Collier taught sixth grade science in Fayetteville, North Carolina, for just over two years, and spent the four years prior to that teaching pre-kindergarten in Michigan.

She earned a bachelor's degree in Child Development from Central Michigan University, and has a master's in Education from Wayne State University.

The school district performed a background check on Collier before she was hired. She has no prior record.

Johnson says the school district will turn the findings of the investigation over to the Professional Practices Commission, for potential action against Collier's teaching certificate.

Calls placed to Collier's home Tuesday were not returned.

No one was home when First Coast News stopped by.

Neighbors we spoke with say they did not know Collier well.

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