Educator Sexual Misconduct Cases Rise 20% in Arizona as School Safety Concerns Mount

As sexual misconduct, grooming and harassment by district employees increasingly threaten Arizona’s K-12 students, the State Board of Education reportedly adjudicated roughly 20% more cases in 2025, from 94 to 113, after a 491% increase of educator disciplinary actions from 2012 to 2024.

Predators target students not only at school but also online, sometimes luring them off campus.

Tempe families are demanding answers after police accused former Corona del Sol High School employee Antony Cruz of accessing and downloading security footage of students changing in a temporary space during locker room construction. Chester Cox, a former Dr. Daniel Bright Elementary School employee previously accused of molesting a boy, is now under investigation for allegedly installing hidden cameras in his classroom and an adjoining bathroom. Former Centennial High School teachers Angela Burlaka and Hailey Beck are also under investigation: Burlaka allegedly sent students salacious photos and videos, while Beck sent thousands of text messages and may have met one victim for sexual encounters.

These stories are just a small part of a larger sum of cases that have come to light since the beginning of 2026. State legislative candidates are paying attention to how events unfold as many K-12 sexual misconduct cases come to light months or even years after they first happened.

In May 2026, the Arizona Department of Education released a statement that said, “Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne is leveling criticism at a rise in incidents of serious misconduct by school employees, noting schools must ensure they are reported immediately to protect children and comply with the law.”

It quoted Horne as saying, “It is absolutely crucial that every school be transparent with the public about what happens in schools. There should be zero tolerance for people who don’t live up to their duty to report misconduct.”

Senate Bill 1437, which expands mandatory child abuse reporting under the purview of A.R.S. 13-3620, was enacted in April 2025. Notably, the Senate amended Section 15-514 of the bill to include a “school district governing board or charter governing body” as mandatory reporters. It also clarifies that “[a] report to a school resource officer or a school safety officer does not satisfy the reporting requirement.”

In light of the ongoing Peoria investigation, LD 3 State House candidate George Khalaf told the Arizona Globe, “It’s unconscionable that a student could be assaulted or harassed and not have that get to the cops under our mandatory reporting laws. It’s a no-brainer focus of the state to ensure we’re protecting our children. We need to work with the county attorney’s office, law enforcement, parents, parental rights advocates and others in the K-12 space to be able to close any loopholes.”

“I also want to make sure as I have championed my entire career—especially because of school safety—parents have an option to send their children to different schools,” Khalaf said.

Khalaf couldn’t promise a legislative solution for all mandated reporting issues. However, if elected, he said he will ensure the state fully funds School Resource Officers, making sure they’re present at every school.