The leader of a children’s advocacy center in eastern Kentucky said technology has created new avenues for inappropriate contact between teachers and students. Kimberly Lee is the executive director at Judi’s Place for Kids.
"We see a lot of educators talking to children outside of school," said Lee, "using social media platforms like Snapchat, Facebook Messenger, those kinds of things."
House Bill 253, recently signed into law by Gov. Andy Beshear, requires documentation of accusations of abusive conduct in public and private schools. It also requires non-public schools to conduct full criminal and child abuse registry background checks.
Laura Wills-Coppelman was groomed by a teacher at a high school in Shelbyville. She said it took her years to process what had happened to her, and she’s since founded an advocacy group called Institutional Complicity Kentucky to hold schools accountable and keep kids safe.
"What we've learned about grooming specifically is that it is a pattern of behavior which is meant to slowly erode boundaries," said Willis-Coppelman.
Shannon Moody, chief policy and strategy officer with Kentucky Youth Advocates, said a key component of House Bill 253 aims to address cases in which school officials used legal agreements to silence students.
"The real primary component that Representative Tipton has been pushing around this educator sexual misconduct piece," said Moody, "is also prohibiting non-disclosure agreements, or NDAs, at public and non-public schools when it involves misconduct with a student or minor."
Because the legislation was attached to an emergency clause, the law's provisions take effect immediately. The Kosair for Kids Face It Movement has a list of child abuse prevention and educational resources at faceitabuse.org.
