On October 15, 2025, investigators with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office arrested 30-year-old teacher Mikayla Rich for alleged sexual misconduct involving a minor student. At the time of the alleged sexual encounters, Rich was a teacher at Acts Christian Academy in Tallahassee. Acts Academy describes itself as a "Pentecostal-oriented" school.
According to media reports, the criminal investigation began when law enforcement was contacted by the alleged victim's mother. The arrest report stated that detectives determined that Rich commenced a “relationship” in late 2022 with the a male student who was then 16-year-old. The alleged misconduct spanned approximately three years, beginning when the teacher was 27 years old. The arrest documents said that initially the two would hold hands and sleep next to each other on the couch or bed in a spooning position. The sexual contact escalated after the student turned 18 years old. Sexual contact occurred at school, at Mikayla Rich's residence, at the victim's home, and during a trip they took to Arkansas.
Text message records showed the pair referred to each other as ‘babe’ and shared ‘I love you's,’ according to the arrest documents. The sexual contact ended when the alleged victim graduated from high school. The criminal investigation revealed sufficient evidence and witness interviews to establish probable cause for a charge of “Offenses Against Students by Authority Figures,” a second-degree felony under Florida law.
After working at Acts Christian Academy, Rich went on to work at Apalachee Elementary School. The sheriff's office reported that Rich is no longer employed with Leon County Schools. However, district spokesperson Chris Petley said she is still on staff as a third-grade teacher at Apalachee Elementary School in Tallahassee, and will be placed on administrative leave and face discipline in accordance with the LCS employee policies and procedures.
According to a 2024 Facebook post published by Pentecostals of the Capital City, an apostolic church the school was affiliated with, Rich was principal of Acts Christian Academy. The post reads:
"Sis. Mikayla Rich has served as our school Principal. She was exceptionally intentional in her leadership. From all the personal care she put into every student, to the lesson planning, administration, and the overall experience of the school, it would not have happened nor been such a success as it was without her. Sis. Mikayla WAS the heart of Acts Academy. We can never repay her for all the sacrifice and love she poured into our school. No doubt her future is bright and she will be a blessing in whatever God has for her next."
Charges Against Mikayla Rich
Rich is charged with one count of "offenses against students by authority figures," a second-degree felony, which recognizes the serious breach of trust when a person in a position of authority engages in sexual conduct with a minor student.
Under Florida law, educators, coaches, or school staff who have sexual relationships with students face heightened penalties due to the authority dynamic and the age of the victim. The Leon County Sheriff’s Office released a statement that detectives gathered enough evidence and conducted interviews that corroborated the allegations and established probable cause for Rich's arrest.
Why This Case Matters
When educators betray the trust placed in them — especially when working with minors — the impact extends far beyond the individual victim. Important considerations include:
- Abuse of power and trust — A teacher holds a position of responsibility, supervision and mentorship. When that role is exploited, it undermines the very foundation of the educational environment.
- Long-term harm to the student — Relationships between adults and minors can involve coercion or manipulation, even if they appear consensual, due to the authority imbalance.
- Institutional duty to protect students — Schools must maintain systems to detect, report and respond to allegations of misconduct. Failure to act can lead to liability and damage to institutional reputation.
- Victim rights and legal remedies — Survivors of such abuse may pursue both criminal accountability and civil action for emotional distress, negligence, or violation of the duty of care by the institution.
Horowitz Law Is Here to Help
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing survivors of sexual abuse. We have handled multiple cases of sexual abuse by authority figures in schools.
It is expected that any institution where children learn and develop skills provides a safe environment — free from violence, harassment, and sexual abuse. Teachers and coaches are entrusted with guiding and protecting students; anyone who violates that trust has no place in education or youth programs.
Contact our law firm at 888-283-9922 or email sexual abuse lawyer Adam Horowitz at adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com for a free consultation.