Stephanie Amato
A former special-education teacher at a Mayfair grade school had sex repeatedly with a 14-year-old student in March and April, according to criminal charges filed by the District Attorney last week.
Stephanie Amato, 30, of the Northeast, was charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, unlawful contact with a minor and related offenses. She surrendered to the Philadelphia Police Department’s Special Victims Unit on June 4 and was released the next day after posting 10 percent of $125,000 bail. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 24 in the city’s Juvenile Court.
According to the DA’s office, Amato taught eighth grade at Ethan Allen School, 6329 Battersby St. Her alleged victim was a boy student at the school. Amato “engaged in ‘consensual’ sex with one of her 14-year-old male students at her home and in her car on multiple occasions between March and April of this year,” the DA said in a printed statement.
The victim’s father reportedly learned of the incidents and removed his son from Allen. Fernando Gallard, a School District of Philadelphia spokesman, told TV station CBS3, “It is very disturbing first of all. And it’s something we take very seriously. Therefore we work very closely with Philadelphia police.”
The district removed Amato from the school and suspended her without pay pending the outcome of the investigation. She has been a teacher for six years. School parents were notified of the case by letter on June 4.
Authorities have identified no other student victims. At the time of Amato’s arrest, her personal Facebook page showed photos of her driving a car accompanied by several young males who appeared to be students, based on messages posted to the photos. Alongside one image, Amato posted, “Fun with with these kids!” In the photo, four youth passengers were flashing their middle fingers at the camera. On another similar photo, Amato posted, “My fav students!!” Amato’s Facebook content is no longer viewable to the public. ••
