PEARL RIVER, La. — A Pearl River teacher was arrested by the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office on Friday after her former high school reported that she sent inappropriate texts to two students.
Arianna Kadinger, 30, was booked with four felony counts and one misdemeanor count of prohibited sexual conduct between an educator and student.
Pearl River High School administrators apparently first reported Kadinger to law enforcement on April 9, after they got an anonymous tip.
"(An) investigation revealed Kadinger had sent text messages to two students which included inappropriate language and photographs," STPSO said on Friday.
The parish superintendent responded publicly to the allegations against Kadinger soon after her arrest Friday morning.
"I am disgusted by these allegations and this will not be tolerated in St. Tammany Parish," Superintendent Frank Jabbia said. "We encourage any student or parent who has concerns or information about safety issues to come forward and speak to law enforcement."
Kadinger was the second teacher arrested in St. Tammany Parish for sending inappropriate texts to students. Slidell High School teacher Alexa Wingerter, 35, was arrested by the Slidell Police Department on Tuesday and also booked with prohibited conduct between an educator and student. Wingerter was also accused of buying alcohol for people under 21.
"It is very unsettling that an individual who is in a position to be a role model and educator in one of our schools took advantage of that position in such a disturbing matter," STPSO Sheriff Randy Smith said Friday.
A LinkedIn profile identified Kadinger as a "Special Education Teacher."