CHARLESTON – The parents of a Kanawha County student say a former Horace Mann Middle School teacher had an inappropriate relationship with their 11-year-old son.
F.V., through parents P. Valdivia and L. Valdivia, filed their complaint in Kanawha Circuit Court against the Kanawha County Board of Education and Sara Sullivan.
.The boy’s school-issued iPad was searched by school personnel for communication between him and Sullivan. Officials also searched the boy’s personal cell phone without parental permission and allegedly found messages between the boy and Sullivan. Messages showed a sexual relationship had been ongoing for several months.
They say Sullivan consistently made inappropriate comments to the child, such as a Post-It note she left in his backpack that said, “My Favorite Mexican :).” She also told him she couldn’t wait until he turned 18 so they could be together. In text messages, she berated him for not talking to her during class and threatened him with failing grades if he didn’t talk to her. They say Sullivan knew a failing grade would keep the boy from being able to play football.
The parents say their son was emotionally, mentally and psychologically harmed. They say it caused severe and permanent emotional damage to them as well.
They accuse the school board and Sullivan of negligence, negligent infliction of emotional distress and negligence per se.
They seek joint and several compensatory damages for pain, suffering, inconvenience, annoyance and loss of enjoyment of life as well as pre- and post-judgment interest, attorney fees, court costs and other relief.
The plaintiffs are being represented by Michael M. Cary of Cary Law Office in Charleston. Both defendants have answered the complaint denying the claims and seek to have the case dismissed. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Tod Kaufman.
According to published reports, Charleston and Kanawha County criminal investigators said there wasn’t enough evidence to charge Sullivan with a crime. Sullivan no longer teaches at Horace Mann, but there is a Sara Sullivan who still is a teacher in Kanawha County.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number 20-C-665