A Creekview High School drama and English teacher has been arrested and charged with two counts of sexual assault following allegations that he conducted a sexual relationship with a student.
Matthew Tamanini, 31, of Canton, allegedly had the affair with the 16-year-old student over a four month period, according to the Cherokee Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff's Office believes at least two sexual assaults occurred on the Creekview campus itself.
These assaults on campus caused the Sheriff's Office to charge Tamanini with two counts of sexual assault against a person in custody.
According to the Cherokee County School District, Creekview High School Principal Adrian Thomas was notified of the relationship on Tuesday and alerted the district's police department. Superintendent Dr. Frank R. Petruzielo authorized an internal investigation, which allowed school police to inform the Sheriff's Office about the misconduct. The Sheriff's Office began their investigation Wednesday morning.
Tamanini was hired by the school district to teach at Creekview in May, 2007. Tamanini is currently being held at the Cherokee Adult Detention Center without bond and is scheduled to go before a magistrate judge Wednesday.
This is the second such incident involving a Creekview High School teacher in the past two months; .
I can tell you anything you want to know about the absolute hell this guy is about to experience and do so publicly. The media will rip him apart just like me and everything they report will be 75% wrong. I finally, after many years learned that it's not the media or the court papers that define me. I'm not embarrassed or ashamed. I wouldn't even change anything about my life. It's made me what I am, and I'm a good man and a great father. Even more than that....I'm happy.
That said, the age of consent in Georgia is too low! Basically, Georgia is inviting adults to engage in sex with 16 and 17 year old kids when that same 16 year old isn't old enough to: 1. Have an abortion without her parent's consent. 2. Drive a car unless he/she remains in school and attends a driver safety course. 3. Buy a beer. The age of consent needs to be raised. That way, any adult engaging in relations with a 16 or 17 year old would risk jail. Any current prohibition of teacher/student relationships is subject to being deemed unconstitutional as has been the case in other states.
As a parent of a Creekview student, I am OUTRAGED over this! "This is the second such incident involving a Creekview High School teacher in the past two months;". Really? Exactly what has been done since the last incident to prevent this from happening again? ( Whatever it was, it didn't work!) Where is the principal? Where is the great Dr. P? Haven't heard anything except from that condescending form letter attached to this news story! Why? To protect the Cherokee County school system's reputation. They'll try to keep this as quiet as possible until no one cares anymore and it all just goes away. Guess what? That's not OKAY with me Mr. Superintendent and Mr. Principal!! Why has this happened twice in the past 2 months? Who is in control over there at Creekview? Demand answers parents!
High school students are NOT adults! They're CHILDREN. Teachers need to stop blurring the line between those two things; ie, students calling a teacher by a nickname or just their last name with no Mr. or Mrs. in front of it! I know Matt Tamanini's students call him "T", just like they would one of their friends. That diminishes the adult's authority! To the parents of the girl involved in this CRIME, I'm with you 100%. Your daughter is NOT to blame. Some comments above have insinuated her to be "slutty" and an "aggressor". I don't care if your daughter was standing naked in front of "T", it was HIS responsibility as a teacher and an ADULT to NOT cross the line. To any student reading this, there IS a line. It is NEVER okay for an adult to cross it with you. EVER! That's why it's a CRIME. You're worth more than that, and YOU DESERVE BETTER! It is my responsibility as a parent to protect my children and guide them in their ways. I EXPECT THE SAME FROM THE ADULTS THEY COME IN CONTACT WITH WHILE THEY'RE AT SCHOOL! I expect PROFESSIONALISM just like I would anywhere else! My kids don't need more FRIENDS. They NEED adults who make an impression on them to be adults that command respect by their words and actions, especially in the classroom!
Shame on you FORMER TEACHER for your comments above. Students will be reading this, and the issue at hand gets lost. The SERIOUSNESS of a teacher, and I use that term lightly in this case, taking advantage of the vulnerability of a young girl is UNACCEPTABLE in every sense of the word! To any teachers reading my posts, please understand, I am not attacking your profession. I'm attacking a total lack of control at Creekview, and I'm sure this isn't the only school where teacher/student "relationships" are occurring. To all the good and decent teachers out there, and my kids have been very blessed with some wonderful teachers, I commend you! You should be outraged by this, as well. YOU DESERVE BETTER, TOO!