MIDLAND, TX (KWES) - A former Midland teacher is behind bars. He was arrested after he admitted to texting a female student for sex and photos. 22 year old Shane Sawyer was a teacher and coach at Alamo Junior High.
"I think a teacher holds a very important roll in a child's life and when that role is crossed I think children can be victims in many different ways," said Angie Morris, a therapist at the Center for Children and Families.
The Midland Police Department says the student told MISD employees that Sawyer started texting her in late September. In her outcry, she said that Sawyer was asking for explicit photos of her and wanted to meet up for sexual intercourse. Sawyer was questioned by authorities and he admitted that those claims were true.
"I emphasize with parents just to keep their communication and their relationship with their children open. Ask questions and event the difficult questions that parents sometimes don't want to ask," said Morris.
She says keeping the door open for children to trust to come forward is most important.
"Just letting a child know that they can come to you at any time I think is important for them. We should maybe be looking for signs of maybe some inappropriate behaviors or inappropriate relationships," said Morris.
