Serious allegations have emerged in Florida in as abuse charges are filed against a longtime local teacher. Mackenzie McLean, a 49-year-old economics teacher at Crooms Academy in Sanford, was arrested Tuesday on two counts of sex offense by an authority figure and one count of distribution of a controlled substance. Authorities allege the misconduct involved a male high school senior who had moved into her home.
According to an arrest affidavit, the student began living with McLean around March 2024 after being removed from his own residence. Investigators said the teen reported repeated sexual encounters during the period when McLean remained his teacher. He estimated he was sexually abused “approximately five to ten times” over two months.
The affidavit states McLean allegedly provided the student with alcohol. On one occasion, she reportedly gave him 12 shots of gin while he was playing video games with her and her daughter. The student told authorities the encounter “went on for a very short time,” and that he “pushed McLean off him and told her it was wrong.” Detectives noted he appeared “quite emotional” and cried during questioning.
The student told investigators he feared losing housing and food if he refused. A female friend also alleged McLean provided her alcohol and Adderall. Text messages cited in the affidavit show McLean wrote, “I’m well aware that I’m the adultier adult and so I intentionally never initiated anything because I didn’t want to make him feel any kind of way.”
Seminole County Public Schools placed McLean on administrative leave. The district stated, “Any allegations of misconduct by our staff will be taken seriously and handled quickly,” adding, “The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority.”
