VANCOUVER, Wash. (KOIN 6) — A Vancouver high school teacher was arrested on child rape charges Tuesday, the school’s principal and police confirmed.
Drama and English teacher Stephanie McCrea was arrested on four counts of child rape, Vancouver Police Dept. said. Evergreen High School Principal Lisa Emmerich notified parents about the incident via email. The school district did not provide specific details on the victim, said to be a high school student enrolled in the Evergreen School District.
“Evergreen High School administrators were initially informed about the possibility of unprofessional conduct between McCrea and a student earlier this month,” Principal Emmerich said in her email. “McCrea was immediately placed on administrative leave and the Vancouver Police Department was contacted.”
Hanna Turnbow, who was McCrea’s student for two years, spoke to KOIN 6 News about the allegations.
“She’s very family-oriented,” Turnbow said. “She was always very strict about sexual harassment rules, you know, dressing rooms when we did plays and stuff. Boys are on one side, girls are on the other, very strict about all that.”
Students told KOIN 6 News McCrea is married with a child.
McCrea taught at EHS and was involved in the school’s drama program beginning in 2006. School district officials said she passed all required background checks upon being hired.
“We understand that students in McCrea’s classes and the outstanding EHS Drama program may be highly impacted by the circumstances and the criminal charges against McCrea,” Principal Emmerich said.
The EHS Theater Department’s website shows an announcement reading, “The Spring musical ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’ has been postponed until further notice.”
McCrea is expected to make her first court appearance Wednesday morning.Photo of Stephanie McCrea courtesy of The Columbian.