Catholic teacher faces sex charges

A teacher with Edmonton Catholic Schools is facing charges for several sexual offences after he allegedly had a relationship with a 15-year-old student, police said Monday.

The Edmonton police child protection section arrested and charged the teacher from St. Basil Catholic School, at 10210 115th Ave., for “a number of sexual offences that allegedly occurred between him and a female student,” Insp. Dave Spiers said during a brief statement at police headquarters.

The alleged relationship between the girl and the teacher was reported to police on Friday, Spiers added.

Piotr Zaloba, 27, is charged with sexual assault, sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching and three counts of luring a child. He made his first court appearance Monday and was released on $1,000 bail.

The alleged relationship took place between Feb. 1 and March 8, 2013, according to court documents.

Zaloba was on a temporary contract with the school board and spent the majority of his time teaching at St. Basil School, said Joan Carr, superintendent of Edmonton Catholic Schools. He has been suspended, she added.

“We have launched our own internal investigation to determine how this possibly could have taken place,” Carr said. “We recognize the sacred responsibility of trust between a teacher and a student, and between a parent and a teacher, and that trust has been violated.”

It’s not clear who reported the alleged relationship, but Carr said it was brought to her attention by city police.

However, police on Monday refused to take questions on the matter, citing the ongoing investigation.

Carr said staff at the school had a meeting about the incident Sunday evening. Students were told Monday.

The school board’s crisis team was sent to the school to offer counselling to any students who need someone to talk to.

“We wish to assure out parent community that our schools are safe places and this is an isolated incident that we take very, very seriously,” Carr said. “On a personal note as superintendent, I was heartbroken and devastated to receive that news this weekend.”

Police have not ruled out the potential for other victims.

“Any time there is a person in a position of trust that is alleged to have committed a sexual offence with a child, there is a possibility of other victims,” Spiers said.