Cheerleading Coach Assault Charges: PA Teacher Had Explicit Relationship With 17-Year-Old Student
A cheerleading coach at a Pennsylvania high school has been charged with sexual assault after she had sex with a 17-year-old male student multiple times in the past year. Some reports indicated the illegal rendezvous occurred during school hours.
Nicole Kurowski, 27, teaches physical education at Tulpehocken High in Bernville, Pa., and is also the school's cheerleading coach. Kurowski was suspended without pay and is awaiting word regarding the future of her employment pending the resolution of criminal charges.
"She was an employee for us for two years as a physical education teacher and cheerleading coach," district superintendent Ed Albert told CBS Philadelphia.
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"I got the tip and I immediately got on the phone with the school board president (Scott W. Klopp) and our solicitor (Brian Boland)," Albert said. "I take this matter very seriously."
Police found out about the salacious relationship after receiving an email tip alleging Kurowski was sexually involved with a student. After an initial investigation, they found Kurowski had begun dating the unidentified senior in October 2012 and was able to carry on the relationship for nearly a year.
Phone records obtained by police reveal the two exchanged communications on a nearly daily basis in addition to exchanging explicit text messages with one another.
Pennsylvania State Police also revealed that the couple went to extreme lengths to conceal their relationship by meeting at inconspicuous locations including nursing home parking lots and various apartment complexes.
Bernville is in Berks County, Pa., and is about an hour and 30 minutes northwest of Philadelphia.
Kurowski was charged with institutional sexual assault and related charges. Kurowski was released on $25,000 unsecured bail. It was not immediately clear if Kurowski had hired legal representation.
