Former Morro Bay High School teacher arrested, accused of having sex with student
Morro Bay police have arrested a former Morro Bay High School teacher and swim coach on suspicion of having sex with a student and other sexual misconduct, the department announced Monday.
Tyler Andree, 24, was arrested Monday afternoon after a three-week investigation. He is suspected of having sexual intercourse with one minor and soliciting another, the department said in a news release.
Jail records show he was booked into the County Jail at 1:13 p.m. and is being held on $30,000 bail.
The school said over the weekend that the former teacher and varsity girls swimming coach resigned suddenly last month amid a continuing police investigation into allegations of misconduct.
Morro Bay police said Andree’s arrest followed an investigation that began began on Jan. 11, 2021, after the school resource officer received an anonymous tip.
Two minor victims were identified, the news release says.
The investigation is ongoing, authorities say, and anyone with information is asked to contact school resource Officer Gene Stuart of the Morro Bay Police Department at 805-772-6225 or San Luis Obispo County Crime Stoppers at 805-549-STOP.
School district says proper background, reference checks were conducted
On Jan. 11, San Luis Coastal Unified School District officials were informed of allegations of potential misconduct that indicated “a teacher/coach had an inappropriate relationship with an unnamed student during his employment,” the district wrote in a news release Monday.
Shortly after, the district began an internal investigation and was later notified by the Morro Bay Police Department that it had received similar information and was starting an investigation as well, according to the district.
Andree resigned from the school on Jan. 18, according to the district.
The district said in a prepared statement on Monday that its “records reflect that background and reference checks were properly conducted.”
The district also noted in the statement that steps have been taken to “ensure student instruction is not disrupted.”
Andree had been an employee with Morro Bay High School since Aug. 13, 2019, according to the district.
“Protecting students is paramount, and our teachers are notified each year about appropriate behavior around students,” the district wrote in its statement. “We cannot and will not tolerate inappropriate conduct between a teacher and any student. We also work to protect and support the victim(s) and ask that you work with us to respectfully protect student privacy.”
Interim principal alerted parents about investigation
On Friday, Morro Bay High School interim principal Jeff Cadwallader said in an email sent to students’ parents there was an ongoing investigation into Andree, who resigned from the school Jan. 18, the school said.
“Although we will not comment on individual personnel actions or the status of a former employee, I want to assure you that student safety is our top priority and maintaining the trust of the MBHS community is very important,” Jeff Cadwallader, at Morro Bay High School, wrote in a statement to parents Friday afternoon.
In the note to the Morro Bay High School community, Cadwallader included information for counseling services at the school and district. Those in need may contact Elena Smith at 805-771-1845 or Shelley Benson at sbenson@slcusd.org.
This story was originally published February 8, 2021 at 3:19 PM.
