Southwest Missouri teacher accused of child sex crimes
McDonald County Prosecutor Maleia Cheney filed a charge of statutory rape against Joelle Stark, 41, on Friday. According to court records, the man told authorities that when he was Stark's student, between 2016 and 2018, Stark would write notes to get him out of class and would take him to her house for sex.
He also told investigators that Stark would touch him inappropriately while other students were in the classroom.
The McDonald County School District issued a statement saying it placed Stark on administrative leave as soon as it was made aware of the investigation. District officials say they are cooperating with law enforcement and have directed all questions to the prosecutor's office.
Southwest Missouri teacher accused of child sex crimes
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You can read the district's full statement below.
The McDonald County R-1 School District was recently notified by law enforcement of an ongoing investigation involving a district teacher. Upon receiving this information, the district immediately placed the teacher on administrative leave, following standard policy and procedure.
The McDonald County Prosecuting Attorney has now filed formal charges. This remains an active criminal investigation, and as such, the district is limited in the details it can share publicly.
The district is fully cooperating with law enforcement and will continue to do so throughout the course of the investigation.
The district is committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and professional learning environment while ensuring due process is upheld for all individuals involved.
District Statement Regarding Ongoing Investigation
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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