Teacher loses license for kissing student

quote:

---

A former Lake Worth High drama instructor won't be allowed to teach in Florida again after the state learned of a brief romance she had with a 17-year-old student.

The relationship between first-year teacher Jessica Rivera, 30, and the male student happened around November 2013, according to a police report. It involved "prolonged kissing," inappropriate text messages and touching the student in an "inappropriate sexual manner," according to a state report.

School police filed no criminal charges, since the student was an older minor and no sex acts had actually taken place, according to a report. Rivera was fired in February 2014.

---

quote:

---

Rivera got to know the student after he volunteered to do the lighting for a play in rehearsals in October and November 2013. The student told police he first received text messages from Rivera "on how she would like to kiss him and that her marriage was not going well."

After the play was over, Rivera held a party where she brought a cake, and students watched the movie 'Aladdin." The student said teacher sat on risers near the back of the auditorium and French kissed for about a quarter of the movie, while other students were in front of them, the report said.

The teen said the teacher also touched him on the upper thigh over his clothing. After that incident, there were no more physical encounters between the two, according to the report.

Rivera confirmed the details with police.

---