A 27-year-old art teacher at Belaire High School was booked into Parish Prison late Tuesday night after admitting she had sex with a 15-year-old male student off-campus, authorities said.
Kesha Denna Manuel, 10625 Florida Blvd., No. 23, was placed on administrative leave Tuesday from her Belaire teaching job.
Manuel faces a count of carnal knowledge with a juvenile, a felony. She faces a fine of up to $5,000 or up to 10 years in jail, or both.
The East Baton Rouge Parish school system alerted the Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday about the matter.
Manuel and the 15-year-old student frequently exchanged letters during the school day, and on Oct. 20 they met off-campus and had sexual intercourse, said Keith Bates, spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office.
According to an affidavit of probable cause, Manuel admitted to a deputy she became attracted to the teenage boy, passing him notes and allowing him to kiss and fondle her in her classroom during free periods.
She also admitted that on Oct. 20, the two met at a public library and had sex in a stall in the women’s restroom, the affidavit says.
Manuel was released from Parish Prison on Wednesday on $15,000 bond. Manuel, who does not have a listed telephone number, could not be reached Wednesday for comment.
Chris Trahan, spokesman for the parish school system, said the boy’s father complained a few weeks ago about the matter to Belaire High Principal Robert Webb. Webb questioned the teacher and student; both denied the accusation, but the principal transferred the 15-year-old out of Manuel’s class, Trahan said.
On Tuesday, at least one teacher discovered that Manuel and the student were exchanging notes and alerted Webb. School officials obtained a copy of at least one of the notes and confronted the teacher and student, Trahan said.
The Sheriff’s Office booked Manuel after conducting its own interviews of the teacher and the student.
Manuel began teaching with the school system in August 2006 at Mohican Educational Center, and then transferred to Belaire in January of this year, Trahan said.
Manuel is a 2005 LSU graduate and is certified to teach art, according to her Louisiana teaching certificate, listed under her maiden name, Kesha Fort.
She will face termination if she does not resign first, Trahan said.
Manuel appears to have married recently. Two online bridal registries show her having planned a wedding for Aug. 18 of this year.

Source: The Advocate
Photo: WAFB