TREDYFFRIN TWP., Pa. (WPVI) — A Chester County teacher is facing 63 charges for allegedly having sex with a 16-year-old student.
Michelle Mercogliano, 35, a special education teacher at Conestoga High School, was charged Wednesday by the Tredyffrin Township police.
The investigation began Monday when police were contacted by family members of a juvenile male student.
A criminal complaint obtained by Action News states the student says they had sex about 12 times since February. The majority of the interactions allegedly happened at Mercogliano’s parents’ house in Malvern.
Court documents also say she purchased medical marijuana for the student about 15 times at a dispensary in Phoenixville.
An online post from the school district shows Mercogliano is an academic support teacher for 9th through 12th grade and also works as an adjunct professor at Immaculata University, teaching Italian.
She is facing a long list of charges, including institutional sexual assault and corruption of minors.
According to the criminal complaint, the suspect used the Snapchat app to “surreptitiously communicate” with the victim.
Mercogliano is not yet in custody. The Chester County DA’s Office says Mercogliano is being cooperative and is expected to surrender with her attorney present.
“Parents and students should be able to trust their teachers. The Defendant broke the law and destroyed that trust. It will not be tolerated,” said Chester County District Attorney Christopher L. de Barrena-Sarobe in a statement.
The Tredyffrin/Easttown School District says Mercogliano has been placed on leave. She began teaching at Conestoga in the fall. She was also a teacher at Hillside Elementary School from 2019 to 2024 and a paraprofessional at Hillside Elementary and Valley Forge Elementary Schools from 2014 to 2018, according to the district.
“We have no information at this time to indicate that the criminal investigation involves other students. However, if you have details you believe are relevant to this investigation, please contact Tredyffrin Township Police at 610-644-3221,” said Dr. Richard Gusick, the Superintendent of Schools, in a statement.
