Report: Teacher admitted to sex with former student
An Ankeny teacher charged with sexually exploiting a male former student admitted to police that she had sexual contact with him at least four times, according to court documents.
Amanda Dreier, 27, of Ankeny, was arrested July 1 and charged with sexual exploitation by a school employee. She was an English teacher for one year at Ankeny High School before resigning June 13 after police launched an investigation into her relationship with the former student.
The unnamed 18-year-old man was enrolled in Dreier's class during the fall and spring semesters of the last school year, according to court documents.
The criminal complaint says Dreier and the student met outside of school in secluded areas, such as parks and parking lots. He also would go to Dreier's home to watch television during the spring semester.
The teacher and former student both admitted to a sexual relationship, but both say it began after he graduated, according to court documents.
Ankeny Superintendent Bruce Kimpston said no complaints were made about Dreier and the district was unaware of her relationship with the student outside of school.
"It was a surprise to all of us," he said.
Ankeny teacher arrested for sexual exploitation
Ankeny High School graduation ceremonies were held June 4. Three days later, Dreier finished her last day for the school year.
That evening, while investigating a report of juveniles on the roof of the Kirkendall Public Library, Ankeny police officers noticed two cars parked side-by-side at the Prairie Ridge Sports Complex, 1510 N.W. Ash Drive, Ankeny
When officers approached the "blacked out" cars, the victim emerged from the back seat, adjusting his T-shirt "as if he was putting it back on," according to court documents. Investigators noted that he was trying to cover the front of his pants.
The victim said he and Dreier had just finished a walk. It was about 11 p.m. Officers reported that the victim was nervous and spoke with a rapid, shaky voice, while Dreier stood quietly with her arms crossed.
Officers noted the 10-year age difference and later looked up their Facebook pages. That's how they discovered that Dreier was a teacher at Ankeny High School and the victim was a recent graduate.
Police contacted the Ankeny school district and conducted searches of the homes, vehicles and cellphones of the teacher and student, according to court documents.
Dreier and the victim later admitted they had a sexual relationship and had engaged in sexual activity at least four times between June 7, when they were discovered by police in the sports complex parking lot, and June 13, when Dreier resigned from her job.
In Iowa, teachers are prohibited from having sexual contact with students, even if the student is 18. Teachers are prohibited from having sexual contact with former students for at least 30 days following graduation.
Dreier graduated from Ankeny High School in 2007 and Iowa State University in 2010. She was employed as an English and speech teacher with Des Moines Public Schools from August 2011 to June 2015.
Amanda Lewis, spokeswoman for Des Moines schools, said Dreier left the district on her own accord to work in Ankeny.
According to the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, Dreier was assigned to teach composition to juniors and seniors, and English and language arts to sophomores at Ankeny High School.
She resigned from her job, but she still has her Iowa teaching license. The revocation process will be put on hold until the criminal case in finished, according to the board. At that time the Iowa Board of Education Examiners will review the case and hold a license revocation hearing if probable cause is found.
In the last decade, at least 107 teaching or coaching licenses were revoked in Iowa. Forty-four of those revocations were related to sexual, romantic or indecent interactions with students or minors, according to the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners records.