Silverado Middle School teacher faces sex charges

The Silverado Middle School community is still reeling over news that a popular teacher was arrested on sex charges.Eighth-grade teacher Kelly Christine Spaich was placed on indefinite paid leave Monday following allegations she engaged in an illegal sexual relationship with a 16-year-old boy, said Mark Geyer, Dry Creek Joint Elementary School District superintendent. Spaich, a 28-year-old Roseville resident, was arrested about 9 p.m. Friday, said Lt. Dave Allison of the Roseville Police Department. The alleged victim is a former Silverado student whose identity is not being disclosed because he is a minor.Geyer noted counseling staff was being made available for students who wanted to talk about the allegations."As in any case where it involves an emotional matter, we have put our staff on notice," he said. "If students need to talk about the issue we can certainly do that."Spaich, who most recently taught language arts and social studies, is a six-year veteran of the district who also served as a boys' volleyball coach and student government advisor, Geyer said. She was also a recipient of the 2002-03 Association of California School Administrators "Teachers who Make a Difference Award."Geyer would not say whether the district had received previous complaints relating to Spaich, but noted all job applicants go through a high level of scrutiny before employment.Members of Spaich's family declined an interview request, and a request to speak with Spaich's attorney was not answered by press time.Geyer said a letter notifying parents and guardians of the arrest was sent home with students Monday - the first day back after spring break.Most, however, already heard the allegations from weekend reports. "I was so shocked," said Silverado parent Tina Izaguirre. "I try to keep them as safe as possible. Obviously, you know this kind of thing happens, but you think, 'Not here. Not in Roseville.'"Spaich was released on $150,000 bail after being booked into the Roseville jail Friday. She faces charges of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, cruelty to a minor, molesting a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. At least two of those could be felonies under California law, Allison said. "There's the potential for state prison, but obviously that would be up to the decision makers," Allison said.Details about the alleged relationship are still sketchy, but police said it occurred over a six-month period. Information came to light from a source police have declined to identify. Allison said he did not know where the alleged incidents took place, except to say none of them occurred on school property.News of the allegations left many parents of the close-knit Silverado Middle School community stunned, especially given Spaich's immense popularity on campus."Students felt safe with her because they could talk to her almost like a friend," said parent Joan Bass, a mother of four whose daughter was in Spaich's class several years ago. "To a lot of those kids she was like a friend."Like many parents, Bass said the revelation spurred a discussion among her children about what's appropriate behavior between teachers and students."Our 13-year-old, we sat him down and discussed this is not the correct way for a teacher or adult to act, and no one should make you feel it's OK to do something like that," she said.While shaken by the allegations, Bass said she had confidence the school and community would get over it. And she hopes teachers wouldn't stop taking an active, positive role in their students' lives."There are so many wonderful teachers at Silverado who do go above and beyond, and I just hope those teachers aren't punished because of this," she said. "This is one incident that should not tarnish the school's reputation."