(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The Westchester School District in suburban Cook County is facing a lawsuit for allegedly failing to report sexual abuse by a former middle school teacher more than 20 years ago.
Attorneys on Tuesday read a statement written by a woman who said she was sexually abused by Dawn Chester, her former teacher and volleyball coach, between 1998 – 2000. At the time, she was 11 and 12 years old.
“It is difficult to put into words the effect this abuse has had on my life,” the statement reads. “To this day, I am in therapy and continue to work through my emotions that come with sexual abuse.”
Attorneys for the victim said Chester, who’s last name at the time was Lach, began a letter-writing campaign between 1998 – 2000 that was “grooming in nature and disturbing.”
“And by all accounts, the school sponsored an overnight event in Wisconsin, at which point, Dawn Lach inappropriately touched our client and made physical contact with her,” said Attorney David Rashid.
Rashid said the school investigated Chester and advised her to resign.
“But, inexplicably, no reports were filed with [the Department of Children and Family Services], no criminal reports were filed, and as a result, this individual went on to teach at a different area middle school for over 20 years,” Rashid said.
Chester was charged with sexual abuse in August 2024. Now, her accuser is suing the Westchester School District for what Rashid said was a failure to report Chester to authorities after finding out about the abuse.
“What was owed was the protection to be a child, to go to school, to be protected,” Rashid said. “That was owed by the Westchester Middle School, by the Westchester School District and those in a position of authority, and they failed, and this lawsuit is the result of that failure.”
Westchester School District Superintendent Philip Salemi told WBBM Newsradio that the district does not comment on pending litigation.
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