Wash High teacher’s aide accused of having sex with student fired
Members of Washington School Board unanimously decided to fire a high school teacher’s aide after she was charged with having sex with a student inside her vehicle.
Tracy Ardeno, 45, of 185 Wellington Ave., Washington, was terminated last week, effective immediately. Dr. Roberta DiLorenzo, district superintendent, said Ardeno was not present at the Jan. 26 board meeting.
DiLorenzo said Ardeno was on leave since the allegations came to light. She declined to say whether Ardeno, who was employed by the district for 13 years, was on paid leave. DiLorenzo declined additional comment.
Ardeno was charged Jan. 9 with a felony count of institutional sexual assault after she and a high school senior, who is over 18, reportedly had sex in her vehicle in early December.
A teacher alerted district officials after reportedly seeing Ardeno picking up the teen Dec. 3 at the Subway restaurant directly across from the high school on Jefferson Avenue. Police and school officials do not believe Ardeno and the student had any physical contact at school.
Court documents indicate Ardeno started talking to the student about his tattoos and smile in late November. The two are seen on school surveillance video throughout the high school talking with each other. Between Dec. 3 and 8, the two reportedly drove around the Washington area and ended up at Washington Cemetery, where they allegedly had sex.
Police believe the two had sex on one occasion.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 25 before District Judge Robert Redlinger. Ardeno’s attorney, Joseph Yablonski, did not return a call seeking comment.