Freedom High Teacher Arrested For Sex With Student

By Alexandra HackettWTSP-TV Tampa

NEW TAMPA, FL -- No one is answering the door at Mary Jo Spack's Wesley Chapel home and police say she isn't answering any of their questions. But some teens in New Tampa are making startling accusations about the 45-year-old teacher.

"A 17-year-old student was bragging on campus that he had had a sexual encounter with a teacher at Freedom High School," explained Tampa Police Department Spokesperson Laura McElroy.

Rumors have been circulating among students for the past week. It was enough to raise red flags with administrators who contacted authorities.

Police say she took two students to a local liquor store then they came to a Howard Johnson Motel on Fowler Avenue to party with three other Freedom High teens.

At some point that evening, a 17-year-old boy admitted to investigators that he had sex with Spack in the motel room shower.

"Everybody is shocked,? said Freedom High School freshman Heather Daniel. ?We would've never expected that from Ms. Spack. She is a great teacher."

Spack is an honors English teacher who's been with the Hillsborough County School District since 2000. Until now, she's had no criminal record and school officials say her employment records are glowing. She was arrested on campus late Thursday afternoon.

Spack is charged with one count of unlawful sex with a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Three other students in the room did not admit to drinking. They are considered witnesses.

Spack has been suspended with pay until the school board meets again in mid-April.

Officials say that's when board members may vote to suspend her without pay pending the outcome of the case.

She was released from Hillsborough County's Orient Road Jail Thursday night on $8500 bond.

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