My student is potentially being stalked by a boy in her last class of the day - What else can I do?

Teacher Support &/or Advice

Yesterday (Friday, last day before spring break), one of my students (ninth grade, high school) in my second period asked me for advice on how to get this boy in her last class of the day to leave her alone. I asked her some questions and this boy spends the entire class period staring at her, follows her around the lunch room, and has tried to follow her home after school, but luckily her cousin picks her up every day. He's attempted to flirt with her/ask her out and she's deflected, even outright telling him he makes her uncomfortable and to leave her alone, but he still stares at her and follows her around every day. She doesn't know his last name or what grade he's in, as the class she has with him is an elective. This has been going on for a few weeks and it's been giving her a lot of anxiety.

She's talked to her teacher for that class, but she's had a student teacher since January so the actual teacher hasn't been around to observe the behavior and wasn't at school all this week. I told her that she can always come to my room after school if she feels unsafe and yesterday she did, and she was nearly hyperventilating. I sat down and wrote an email to her teacher explaining what she's told me, and also emailed her counselor with all the information I had.

I'm worried that this is all going to get buried in inboxes during Spring Break and it'll be forgotten or brushed off as nothing. Her parents are aware of the situation, but work long hours otherwise her mom would probably have already come to the school to get the boy removed from her class. I know that in all likelihood, the boy is simply really awkward and has a crush, but it could be something much worse.

What else can I do? I'm planning on following up on those emails first thing after break and checking in with her, but is there anything that can be done from my end beyond wait and see and continue to have my room be a safe space for her?

Posted Mar 30, 2024, 6:12 PM UTC

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