A California teacher has been accused of raping a 16-year-old male student. Detectives believe that the former “teacher of the year” may have sexually assaulted other victims.
Tracy Vanderhulst was arrested on Thursday night on suspicion of having unlawful sexual intercourse with a 16-year-old male student, according to a news release from the Yucaipa Police Department. Vanderhulst was charged with statutory rape.
Vanderhulst was booked into Central Detention Center in San Bernardino, and her bail was set at $30,000.
The arrest was made following an investigation by detectives from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s Specialized Investigations Division – Crimes Against Children Detail and the Yucaipa Police Department.
“Investigators and the Yucaipa Calimesa Joint Unified School District worked cooperatively to ensure a thorough investigation into this matter was completed,” the San Bernardino’s Sheriff’s Department said.
Detectives believe there may be additional victims.
Vanderhulst is a 38-year-old math teacher at Yucaipa High School. She was hired at the high school in 2013, according to a Facebook post.
In a since-deleted tweet, the high school said Vanderhulst “offers up a rigorous mathematics curriculum and deep caring for her students.”
In a YouTube video posted seven years ago, Vanderhulst said she teaches a math honors class to mostly freshman students.
Vanderhulst won the school’s “teacher of the year” award in 2017.
In a description of Vanderhulst being awarded Yucaipa High School’s “teacher of the year” award, she was described as someone who “epitomizes the educator so many desire to be she is the kind and innovative teacher from whom we hope our children will grow; the educator who strives to engage all of her students from her intervention classes to her honors classes.”
Vanderhulst’s profile is still active on the Yucaipa High School website.
Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding crimes in the possible teacher sex scandal case to contact Detective Rachel Young of the Specialized Investigations Division, Crimes Against Children Detail at (909) 890-4904, or provide anonymous tips to the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463).
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
Yucaipa High ‘teacher of the year’ arrested, accused of having sex with student