A Northeast Philadelphia middle school teacher turned herself in on Wednesday after she allegedly had "consensual" sex with one of her special education students several times.
Stephanie Amato, an eighth grade special education teacher at Ethan Allen Elementary School, was arrested and charged after prosecutors accused her of carrying on a "consensual" sexual relationship with her student.
Investigators say one of Amato's 14-year-old male students told the school counselor that he had sex with Amato several times at her home and in her car between March and April of this year. School officials then contacted police.
Amato, 30, was immediately removed from the school pending the investigation and was not allowed to have contact with students. She has been suspended with pay.
Amato surrendered to Special Victims Unit detectives on Wednesday and was later arraigned on eight counts including unlawful sexual contact with a minor, child endangerment and indecent exposure. She left custody after posting 10 percent of $125,000 bail, according to court records.
Photos posted Tuesday on Amato's Facebook page show her smiling with a group of teenage boys in her car. NBC10 spoke with two of the teens in that photo who told us they believe she is innocent.
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A letter was also sent home to parents of students at the school alerting them of the situation.
