A 27-year-old high school teacher in Westville, Illinois, has been arrested for allegedly grooming a student and sending explicit images via social media. Kaylee Broadway was taken into custody Wednesday after law enforcement uncovered digital evidence supporting allegations that she sent nude photographs to a minor.
The Westville Police Department initially filed the report before requesting the Vermillion County Sheriff’s Department take over the investigation. Authorities executed search warrants on various electronic devices and social media platforms, where they reportedly discovered material confirming Broadway’s communications with the student.
Broadway has been arraigned in the Vermillion County Courthouse and is currently on pre-trial release. She faces charges related to grooming and distribution of harmful materials to a minor.
Psychologist Elizabeth Jeglic, speaking on the broader issue, warned that schools—once considered safe havens—are now becoming increasingly common environments for sexual misconduct. While national rates of child sexual abuse have declined, incidents involving educators have increased, particularly those involving digital communication platforms.
Research cited by Jeglic shows that 11 percent of children experience some form of sexual misconduct by educators, and about one percent endure direct contact abuse. That translates to roughly 500,000 affected children in the United States. She also noted that 14 percent of the perpetrators are women.
Jeglic emphasized that the grooming process often begins online, with perpetrators using social media, text messaging, and video calls to bypass parental oversight and establish inappropriate relationships. She added that even if male victims do not initially view themselves as victims, the long-term psychological effects can be severe.
Law enforcement officials are continuing their investigation into Broadway’s case, which has added fuel to growing concerns about the safety of students within public school systems.
