Goshen teacher resigns following allegations of sex with student

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GOSHEN, Ind. — REAL News Michiana has learned a Goshen High School English teacher resigned earlier this week following allegations of a sexual relationship with a female student. According to sources, the alleged incidents involved English Teacher Lavonne Shetler and a Senior student last school year. The student, who is now in college, reported the sexual relationship to the school district within the last month or so.

REAL News Michiana does not identify the victims of sexual abuse and will not be naming the former student involved in the alleged incidents. However, the former student also posted about the alleged sexual relationship to social media.

In a post to Instagram, the former student wrote the following:

“Those in 574, I’m sure you have heard (or are soon to hear) about the shit that went down w(ith) me and a former GCS teacher.” The student wrote. “She told me she had feelings for me the day after my 18th birthday. After a lot of conversation (both in and outside of the classroom) we eventually slept together (multiple times) while I was still her student. During this time she also tried to tell me that I was the manipulator in the situation, and being the dumbass I was, part of me believed her.”

“In September, we finally agreed to stop contact.” The former student continued. “I kinda ‘woke up’ at (college) I would never sleep with a high school uppercalssman now… waiting until the day after I turn 18 is equally vile. The entire situation was an abuse of power. When I found out she was still teaching, I notified administration because someone like that should not be in a classroom setting.”

REAL News Michiana reached out to the former student who confirmed the identity of the teacher, but did not wish to comment about the alleged sexual relationship.

“I’m sorry, but I’m in (college) now and I looking to leave the situation at home.” She wrote to RNM in a message on Facebook.

REAL News Michiana reached out to Goshen Community Schools for comment. The school district refused to discuss personnel issues, but did confirm Shetler resigned on January 8th of this school year.

“As part of human resources best practices, Goshen Community Schools does not grant interviews or comment on personnel.” Superintendent James DuBois wrote in a statement to RNM. “The school corporation can confirm that Lavonne Shetler was hired as a Language Arts teacher on January 6, 2014, and the school board accepted her resignation from that position at its January 8, 2024, regular meeting.”

REAL News Michiana has also obtained vague messages sent to parents from the Goshen High School Principal regarding the issue. The messages mainly center around the unexpected departure of the teacher.

“I stopped in to speak to each IB English section last week to let students know Ms. Shetler will not be returning to Goshen High School or Goshen Community Schools.” Principal Cathleen DeMeyer wrote. “I am not able to comment on personnel issues but please know I am sorry you and your student have to deal with the loss of a teacher mid-year and under these circumstances… Our counselors are available to help process the emotions that are sure to accompany this change of plans.”

It’s unclear if anything has been reported to law enforcement or if any crimes have been committed.

LAVONNE SHETLER

REAL News Michiana has attempted to make contact with Shetler on multiple occasions with no success. RNM sent a reporter to her home in Goshen where she lives with her husband. We knocked on her door and rang her ring doorbell at different times of the day with no response. We also left a business card for her to give us a call back.

Since her resignation, Shetler has also appeared to delete or make private nearly all of her social media accounts, including Linkedin.

Shetler has made headlines in the past for her teaching and activism. Last year she was awarded thousands of dollars in a Lilly Endowment Teacher Creativity Fellowship where they paid for her to “spend six weeks in Mexico and Guatemala over the summer, focusing on learning more Spanish and engaging more fully with Latin American cultures.”

In 2020, Shetler made headlines in the Goshen News for statements she made at a School Board Meeting calling for Critical Race Theory to be brought in to professional development and training. An excerpt from the June 8th, 2020, Goshen News article can be seen below.

“Goshen Community Schools administration, faculty and staff are all much whiter than our student body and the community we serve. Our status as educators, and the impact we have on our students, should not be taken lightly. What our students learn from us goes beyond the explicit curriculum,” Shetler said. “The first step to building a better future is to make sure we each are aware of our own biases, our own internalized racism, and our own shortcomings in addressing them.”

“In my six years teaching here, I cannot remember ever participating in anti-racist training,” Shetler added. “To allow another school year to pass by without actively educating ourselves on the systemic inequalities of American schools, and how we, regardless of our intent, are perpetuating this system, is a disservice to our students, and a dishonoring of education as it should be.”

Shetler said she feels anti-racism training must become a regular part of the continuing education and professional development of all teachers, staff and administrators at GCS.

“As we learn more, we will be better able to cultivate a school culture in which students will be able to participate in open and honest conversations about race and racism, students of color will be able to see themselves both in our curriculum and our teaching staff, and students of color will not be affected by disproportionately high dropout rates or disciplinary actions,” Shetler said. “The work must begin with us.

“The statement that was made this afternoon focuses on what GCS recognizes and believes, but where is the action?” Shetler added. “I hope that from here, GCS will incorporate tools and learning that bring justice into our schools, and encourages all of us to identify the ways in which we can be better, and do better.”

Along those lines, Shetler said a good starting place would be to require that all GCS faculty and staff participate in ongoing anti-racism training provided by a reputable, outside organization.

“We need all teachers, all staffing, and all administrators to actively engage in the work of becoming anti-racist, and this cannot be accomplished in a one-day session. It will not be enough to send a handful of teachers to anti-racism training, nor should we assume that we can lead this learning ourselves,” she said. “I ask that you support this growth toward not just a more inclusive school, but toward an anti-racist community where all of our students will feel safe, all of our students will be respected, and all can receive an education that is equitable and just.”

GOSHEN COMMUNITY SCHOOLS HISTORY OF TOLERANCE FOR SEXUALIZING KIDS

Goshen Community Schools has a history of tolerating the sexualization of children at the hands of its educators.

In 2021, an RNM investigation uncovered Goshen Middle School English Teacher Naomi Zook organized a drag show for kids at a public park pool. The actions of the teacher were later supported by the GCS Superintendent at the time, Steve Hope.

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