Get a look at how the Socorro Independent School District Police Department watches over the schools. Ruben R. Ramirez / El Paso Times
Trustees for the Socorro Independent School District unanimously voted Tuesday evening to fire a teacher accused of having an improper relationship with a student.
Gerardo Saucedo Gomez, 38, a former English teacher for the district, was fired after he was arrested and charged with having an improper relationship between educator and student.
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On Nov. 13 at 11:30 p.m., Saucedo was allegedly found by police in a parking lot in the back seat of a car with a student, who was identified only as a senior at Pebble Hills High School.
The Socorro ISD staff directory lists Saucedo as a teacher at Pebble Hills. He had been with the district since 2006.
Officials said police officers were patrolling businesses when they saw two cars parked next to each other in behind a strip mall at 1510 N. Zaragoza Road. Saucedo and the student were found in the back of his Dodge Charger, and Saucedo identified himself as a teacher with the Socorro ISD.
Saucedo was arrested on Nov. 20 and charged with having an improper relationship between educator and student. He was placed on administrative leave by the district.
Officials said the student told detectives that the relationship between her and Saucedo began when she was a freshman, when Saucedo would kiss her about twice a week in his classroom. The student said the relationship turned sexual in October and that the two had sex on two occasions.
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Socorro trustees have fired two other educators since August for improper behavior. Albert Licon, the former Montwood High School band director, was fired after he was charged with possession of child pornography and having an improper relationship with a student. Olga Najera, a former kindergarten teacher at Helen Ball Elementary, was fired after being accused of slapping, pinching and stepping on students.
Sara Sanchez can be reached at 546-6147; ssanchez@elpasotimes.com; @siempresarita on Twitter.