Ex-Estero High teacher accused of inappropriate contact with student

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Estero High School

ESTERO, Fla. An Estero High School art teacher resigned following multiple complaints that accused her of inappropriately touching a male student.

Jennifer Hambling and the student were seen alone in her classroom giving each other back rubs, according to emails sent to Principal Clayton D. Simmons from multiple staff members.

One of the staff members took photographs that appear to show Hambling in the act.

The school’s resource officer, Cpl. Iris Sullivan, later told school administration that she had also seen two male students in Hambling’s classroom after school one day. Hambling handed one of the students money to pick up a pizza, the resource officer said.

Hambling resigned on Feb. 3 in an email sent to school administrators three hours after the Lee County school district opened an investigation.

The school district stopped the investigation after her departure.

“I don’t think she should’ve been able to resign without that matter being resolved first,” nearby resident Julia Rodriguez said.

The Department of Children and Families is involved in an institutional child protection investigation at the school, but it’s unclear if that investigation is connected to Hambling.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office has not confirmed if they will continue to look into the matter.

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