Posted on 06/20/2007 10:23:41 AM PDT by Rb ver. 2.0
WILMINGTON (AP) — A 40-year-old high school science teacher and cross country coach who once worked in Guilford County has resigned his position and married a 16-year-old student.
Brenton Wuchae coached Windy Hager at South Brunswick High School, where she recently completed her sophomore year as one of the school's top runners. He also lives less than two miles away from the Hagers' home on Oak Island.
Wuchae married Hager in Brunswick County on Monday, according to a marriage license.
Hager's parents, Dennis and Betty Hager, said they did all they could to keep the couple apart after noticing a deeper-than-usual friendship forming between them. The parents said they tried to intervene by talking to the coach, going to school officials, pleading with police and sheriff's office detectives, even other teachers and students at South Brunswick.
But the Hagers say they reluctantly signed a consent form allowing their daughter to marry her coach.
Brunswick County Schools Superintendent Katie McGee said both the school system and the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office investigated Wuchae's case but did not come up with enough evidence that would merit charging or even firing the coach.
"As a lifelong educator, I am truly shocked and disheartened by what has transpired," McGee said.
The Brunswick County Board of Education approved Wuchae's resignation Tuesday — one week after Wuchae had filed it.
The school system hired Wuchae as a teacher and coach in August 2004 from Guilford County.
Wuchae and his new bride were at home Tuesday, resting on his living room floor watching TV. He declined to comment.
Look for the State legislature to write a law against teachers marrying high school students under the age of 18.
But the Hagers say they reluctantly signed a consent form allowing their daughter to marry her coach.
Huh? If I had a 16 year old daughter being stalked by a 40 year old perv, it wouldn't be a consent form in my hand.
The whole thing seems...not right, mostly because the girl is sixteen, and that’s got to be awkward. However, the age difference of 24 years is the same as that of FDT and his wife, so all I can say is, good luck to these two.
There is a HUGE difference between a GIRL of 16 and a WOMAN of 35.
Those parents surrendered faster than Harry Reid.
He’ll be the fool when her infatuation wears off.
Come on, they don't get that huge ;-)
At least he’ll be out of jail.
If some 40 year old creep kept sniffing around my 16 year old daughter I would be in prison for shooting him dead.
May-September.
Or maybe April, or March?
In any case:
Let’s wish them the best, may they be happy.
Isn’t this the same area of the country that has “family film festivals” where they show X-rated material? I remember such an event about a year or two ago.
It’s not any different if the adult was a woman marrying one of her students. These adults should be fired and never permitted to work with children again.
She’s 16, dude. This isn’t Mississippi in 1923.
It is hard for me to believe that this 16 year old girl is mature enough to wisely make this decision. It's possible that she is, but it's extremely unlikely.
However, they received the consent of the parents, and followed the law.
I wish them luck and hope for the best. It's not inconceivable that it will work out for them, but not being able to wait until she turned 18 doesn't seem like a good sign.
Ok this is a bit weird ... but... no one is alleging he broke any law, he asked for and obtained permission to marry her... I am going to be an optimist and wish them luck.
Agreed...the school is not a place for "deeper than usual" friendships, especially of the sort between adults in positions of authority and their students.
Not even with a gun to my head.
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