PELL CITY, Ala. (WIAT)- All was normal Monday afternoon at Elouise and Harold Williams Intermediate School, in Pell City. But that wasn't the case Friday.
That's when 38-year-old Heather Whitten, was arrested for allegedly having sexual acts with a boy under the age of 16, leaving parents shocked, and concerned.
"I send her to school thinking she's being protected and to find out a teacher is doing something like this, makes me want to pull my child out and home school her," says concerned parent, Connie Smith.
Heather Whitten, is a fifth grade reading teacher at Williams Intermediate School. She's charged with second degree rape. Connie Smith, has a sixth grader at this school. Whitten's arrest leaves her disturbed.
"Crackdown on these teachers, do back ground checks when they get a complaint on these teachers, investigate it, don't sweep it under the rug."
According to the St. Clair County Sheriff's Office, none of the alleged acts happened at school, but the Pell City School Board, is still taking the proper steps while this case is under investigation. As for now, Whitten, has been suspended.
"All the people go on a back ground check that's run through the state and the feds, and we feel comfortable with that, but unfortunately things happen that we'd rather not," says Superintendent Bobby Hathcock.
Although she's suspended from the school, that's not good enough for parents like Connie. She has her own opinion on what should happen next.
"They need to put her tail in jail, and I'll be on a jury to send her there."