“I know it’s out there someplace,” Sheriff Grady Judd said. “It always is and that’s not a good thing. He’s still a juvenile, a child, and she’s an adult and she had sex and it’s wrong on every level.”
Davis was an employee of Kelly Education, and the staffing company had posted her to Lakeland High School where she worked as a substitute English teacher. Kelly Education reportedly helps provide substitute teachers for Polk County Public Schools.
“The safety of students is our highest priority,” Denise Ridenour, a company representative, said. “Ayanna Davis has been deactivated and is not able to accept assignments pending the outcome of the criminal investigation.”
In an interview with investigators, the sheriff’s office said Davis admitted to engaging in unprotected sex with the student on four different occasions. That was twice at the home of the victim and twice at her house.
“This is a clear violation of sexual battery laws,” said Sheriff Grady Judd. “She was in a position of influence over the victim, and she took advantage of that for her own twisted pleasure.”
The sheriff’s office also said Davis’ admission corroborated the victim’s statement to detectives. The victim’s age wasn’t revealed but authorities listed the range as 16 years or younger, New York Post reported.
The sheriff’s office has since charged Davis with two counts of sexual battery by custodian and offenses against students by an authority figure. The Lakeland Police Department has also additionally charged her with two counts of sexual battery.
“We expect substitute teachers to uphold the same high standards of conduct and professionalism as our full-time educators,” Superintendent Frederick Heid said. “The charges against this person are disgraceful and a complete violation of the trust that teachers build with their students. There is no room in our schools for this type of conduct.”
