Wantirna College teacher suspended after allegedly sending student inappropriate messages

A female teacher charged with child sex offences has been suspended, as images of the educator with her alleged victim surfaced online.

A Wantirna College teacher is under investigation after allegedly sending inappropriate messages to a student.

The Wantirna College teacher accused of sexually assaulting an underage student has officially been suspended on an “interim basis”.

The Herald Sun can reveal the Victorian Institute of Teacher (VIT) has now taken action against Azar Rahmatzadeh by adding her to the public register of disciplinary action (RODA).

It comes after Ms Rahmatzadeh, 44, faced the Melbourne Magistrates’ Ccourt on Monday afternoon for a filing hearing.

Ms Rahmatzadeh was charged with four counts of sexual penetration of a child under 16, two counts of sexual assault and one charge of supplying liquor to a minor.

Wantirna College teacher Azar Rahmatzadeh.

The charges relate to alleged incidents that occurred against a male.

New images of the teacher with the alleged victim have surfaced online, including a photo of the pair posing together for a snap in the classroom.

Another image shows the teacher sitting on the floor next to the student while at school.

It is understood police pounced on the school on Monday, just hours after Education Minister James Merlino toured the campus to announce a significant funding boost for the school in the 2022/23 Budget.

It is not yet clear whether Ms Rahmatzadeh was arrested onsite.

The Croydon woman was bailed to appear before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 29 July.

Detectives from the Knox Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team continue to probe the case.

In 2020 Ms Rahmatzadeh was listed as Wantirna College’s Language Program Leader.

Prior to the pandemic she was responsible for organising a cultural tour to Spain to students in years 8-12.

Ms Rahmatzadeh was investigated after a series of text messages she allegedly wrote to an underage student came to light.

The messages, seen by the Herald Sun, call the student “handsome” and say: “love your guts forever”.

In one the pair exchange messages about when she will send a picture of herself in a bikini.

In a letter to parents on Tuesday, principal Kevin Murphy revealed the police action.

“We were very concerned to learn of this and I assure you our number one priority is always the safety and wellbeing of our students,” he said.

“The female staff member will not return to school while the case is continuing.

“I want to reassure you the safety and wellbeing of children and young people is always of highest priority at Wantirna College.”

Sources close to the school allege Ms Rahmatzadeh was involved in an “inappropriate relationship” with a student.

The Herald Sun has also obtained a private Facebook message allegedly from Ms Rahmatzadeh to the underage student.

“Hey handsome, thanks for reading this. I’m nervous to send it cause I know you don’t want to speak to me right now but hope it clears up my thinking and helps show you what I did has nothing to do with how I feel about my fave (student’s name),” the message read.

“You didn’t seem that keen to be chatting to me on snap (Snapchat) recently. That’s why I asked you if you still wanted to and you said ‘no but it was fun’.

“I guess to me that meant you didn’t want to be on snap with me anymore cause I only had it (to) chat to you.

“I don’t get how snap works but I assumed you wanted me to get off it. That’s all.

“I wasn’t mad and it didn’t mean I didn’t like you or didn’t want to talk to you or see you anymore, I also noticed that day that you removed me as a friend on Facebook.”

The Wantirna College community has been rocked by the allegations.

The message continued: “Again I understood things can be complicated and I was OK with it, but just when you said about not wanting to chat on snap I assumed it meant you didn’t want to be on social media with me.

“In hindsight I was perhaps wrong to go off it and should’ve waited to chat to you at school but it made sense at the time so I did. I definitely regret it and wished I hadn’t cause I hate how it is right now.

“I’m just stupid sometimes, I don’t think and make stupid decisions (I’ll stop drinking!!) but please know I still think the world of you and hope reading this makes you hate me less and one day, in time, we can be mates again.

“I’m truly sorry if I hurt you.

“F---ing love your guts forever xxx.”

Former students of the teacher have expressed shock at the revelations.

“I would never have expected this. I’m just mind-blown,” one student said.

“She was a dedicated teacher. This is a big shock.”

A Department of Education spokesman said: “As this matter is subject to a police investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment”.

Counselling and wellbeing support has been offered to anyone affected by the incident.