LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — Lake County School officials aren't commenting on allegations that an English teacher at East Ridge High School had an inappropriate relationship with a student and failed to report allegations the student was abused.
School district records show that the parents of some students accused Deidre Valentine of "buying (the student) prom tickets, getting her hair and nails done and taking her place" in her car.
The family had phone records showing more than 1,000 calls between Valentine and their daughter.
The records also show the teen's parents complained in November, but an investigation wasn't launched until more than six months later.
Records show that Valentine gold officials that she had given the girl rides to school activities, talked on the phone and given her advice, after the girl claimed she had been abused at home.
The girl has graduated from East Ridge, and when district officials asked Valentine why she didn't report the alleged abuse she said she didn't know that she was required to do that, records show. Records show that Valentine was fired for failing to report the suspected abuse.
WFTV
