Former biology teacher Brooke Anderson, 28, is being sued by a former student who claims her sexual abuse caused him permanent psychological injuries and loss of faith in God. Anderson is two months into serving a 30-month sentence for a host of sexual abuse charges committed in Florida.
Grooming and sexual relationship
Anderson, a science teacher at Riverview High School in Tampa, Florida, began grooming the teen in 2021. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office alleges the relationship began with sexually explicit text messages and escalated in the weeks leading up to her arrest in 2024.
The teen's lawsuit claims he would eat lunch in his teacher's classroom during the first two years of attendance at Riverview High School. When he began his junior year, Anderson began to text the boy very graphic messages of a sexual nature. Multiple instances of sexual activity were reported between the pair, including inside Anderson's classroom where the pair allegedly had sex before the start of the school day.
Arrest and legal proceedings
Anderson was booked into jail by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office before being released the day after when a judge set her bail at $45,000 (£33k).
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said last year in a press release: "This teacher betrayed the trust of a student, a school, and an entire community. What should have been a safe, supportive environment for learning was exploited for abuse. Her actions are criminal, calculated, and deeply disturbing."
Lawsuit and damages
The suit alleges Anderson's "heinous sex acts" left the young teen with "permanent psychological injuries" and made him lose his faith in God. The teen now wants $100,000 in damages from Anderson, who grew up in a plush mansion on Rhode Island, according to the Daily Mail. The former student claims that Anderson's guilty plea strengthens his case against his former teacher, according to the suit.
