High school teacher charged after having ‘inappropriate sexual relationship with student,’ police say

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC/Gray News) - A Georgia high school teacher is facing charges alleging improper sexual contact with a student and child molestation.

The Savannah Police Department arrested Paulina Walden, 35, an hour after school dismissal on Friday.

The arrest came after the Board of Education Police Department contacted the Savannah Police Department on April 24, regarding a report of a teacher having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a student.

The Savannah-Chatham County Public School System said that Walden is an English teacher at Jenkins High School, and she has worked at the school district since late 2023.

They also confirmed she teaches mythology along with oral speaking.

“She remains an employee of the district at this time as the case has not yet been adjudicated. Since she is not actively on the job, she would need to use any accrued leave time or personal days in order to be paid. If she returns to work, she will remain reassigned to a location where she will have no interaction with students,” according to the school district.

According to the district, when administrators became aware of the allegations, Walden was reassigned to a non-school location with no student contact for a week.

The school district said that is standard procedure when an employee in the district faces allegations of inappropriate behavior.

She has no criminal record in Chatham County.

Because the alleged contact happened off campus, Savannah Police is leading the investigation.

Walden has been booked into the Chatham County Detention Center and is currently being held without bond.

The school district released the following statement after Walden’s arrest:

“The district takes any accusation of inappropriate conduct by an employee very seriously. The matter will be reported to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.

No further comment can be made on the allegations as it involves a personnel matter. Further inquiries should be directed to the Savannah Police Department."