A SCHOOL lunch lady accused of having sex with a student inside a campus closet kept a picture of the teen in her locker, officials say.
Investigators uncovered the disturbing clue after the young boy opened up about their sick alleged relationship.
Jenna Woodworth, 30, was taken into custody last week after cops began investigating claims of an inappropriate affair.
The alleged crimes took place at East Central High School in San Antonio, Texas, nearly 80 miles from Austin.
Allegations have been made against her for frequently giving the teenager rides in a school district vehicle, secretly taking him onto the school premises, and engaging in sexual activities with him in a school storage area.
Officials said the boy admitted to the sexual encounters during a police interview.
Following Woodworth’s arrest, school personnel reportedly discovered a photograph of the teenage victim inside her work locker.
The method by which law enforcement was alerted to the alleged activities has not been disclosed.
However, an arrest affidavit indicates that the investigation commenced a day before arrest.
As reported by the local ABC affiliate KSAT, the student revealed to the authorities that Woodworth would collect him in a vehicle owned by the district from a parking area near the stadium.
She would then allegedly transport him back to the school campus.
The pair allegedly used an employee-only entrance to access the building.
The student detailed to police alleged encounters in a kitchen closet, accessed through the cafeteria’s back door.
He claimed that after the alleged sexual activity, Woodworth would wash her hands and return to her work duties.
The student further said that this same scenario occurred on multiple occasions, including the following day.
The “relationship” between Woodworth and the student reportedly began when he was a freshman at the school.
SCHOOL STATEMENT
East Central ISD expressed their commitment to openness with the community regarding a recent incident involving a member of the Child Nutrition staff and a senior student at East Central High School. Once they became aware of an inappropriate relationship between the employee and the student, prompt and resolute measures were taken.
“The employee was removed from campus and terminated immediately. The student’s family was contacted right away and has remained actively engaged throughout the process. Child Protective Services was notified, and we continue to work closely with law enforcement—advocating to the District Attorney’s Office for charges to be pursued. The East Central Police Department’s investigation remains ongoing.”
“Any inappropriate relationship between a staff member and a student violates the trust placed in our employees and is wholly unacceptable. We want our community to know that we are taking this matter very seriously and have acted swiftly at every step to protect our students and uphold the integrity of our schools.”
Statement from East Central Independent School District
The student told police that “[Woodworth] would get upset with me if I did not speak to her or acknowledge her when I was around her.”
FIRED & ARRESTED
Woodworth had been employed by the high school’s nutrition department since 2021.
Following Woodworth’s arrest, East Central High School terminated her employment and informed parents of the situation via a letter.
The district’s communication to parents emphasized the swift action taken to address the allegations and ensure student safety.
The letter also conveyed that the student’s family had been notified and is cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
The school district conveyed its serious stance on the matter, stating that such relationships violate the trust placed in their employees.
Woodworth was booked into the Bexar County Jail and subsequently released on a $50,000 bail.
She is now facing a second-degree felony charge related to an improper relationship with a student, which carries a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years and a $10,000 fine in Texas.
The age of the student involved has not been officially released by investigators.
Texas law, while setting the age of consent at 17, still prohibits school employees from engaging in sexual relationships with students, regardless of the student’s age or consent.
