Ex-teacher accused of sex with 4 students

Former Pasadena ISD teacher LaShawn Simmons, 41, is charged with five felonies, including sexual assault of a child, online solicitation of a minor and possession of child pornography. She was accused of having sex with four different students in 2012. less Former Pasadena ISD teacher LaShawn Simmons, 41, is charged with five felonies, including sexual assault of a child, online solicitation of a minor and possession of child pornography. She was accused of having ... more Photo: Pasadena ISD Photo: Pasadena ISD Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Ex-teacher accused of sex with 4 students 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A former Pasadena middle school math teacher is accused of having sexual relationships with at least four high school students, after a two-month investigation uncovered inappropriate Facebook messages, explicit texts and nude pictures on her cell phone.

LaShawn Simmons, 41, was charged Monday with sexual assault of a child, two counts of improper relationship between an educator and a student, online solicitation of a minor and possession of child pornography, court records show. Simmons resigned last month from Beverly Hills Intermediate School in the Pasadena Independent School District in lieu of termination.

Pasadena ISD officials said arrangements were being made Tuesday morning for Simmons' surrender to authorities.

A two-month investigation followed a complaint from a student's parent who discovered Facebook messages between her son and Simmons in December. Investigators say they found Simmons had sex with two adults and two juveniles who attend J. Frank Dobie High School.

Simmons, who worked for the middle school for 14 years, was placed on administrative leave after the complaint was made in December. Investigators found nude pictures of the students and several sexually explicit conversations with the teens on her cell phone. After identifying the students, the teens admitted to investigators in separate interviews that they had sex with Simmons, who had been their teacher, at her apartment after school. One student admitted to trading nude pictures with her via text message. Investigators tracked the material from March to September 2012.

Pasadena ISD superintendant Kirk Lewis said there was no indication during Simmons' tenure that she had any inappropriate relationship with students before the investigation.

"Any time you have someone that violates the trust between a teacher and a student, we have to work extra hard to build the trust," Lewis said. "It's a sad thing to have happen for the impact on the kids and also for the great teachers trying to build relationships with students."

He said as communication methods are changing, it's difficult to know how to manage social media and electronic communication.

"In today's world, so much of our communication is happening through texting, emails and other social media," he said. "That is a reality for us and we certainly need to watch it."

Any one with information related to this case are asked to contact Trae Morris, detective with the Pasadena ISD Police Department at (713)740-0063.