Fabens High School teacher accused of improper relationship with student

Investigators with the the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit arrested and charged a Borderland teacher accused of having an improper relationship with a student.

Joanna Atilano, 38, was arrested on Monday, January 28, 2019. She was charged with Improper Relationship between Educator and Student and booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility on a $10,000 bond.

The sheriff’s office began investigating Atilano on January 17, 2019. Atilano is a teacher at Fabens High School, located at 601 NE G Ave.

According to her Texas Educator Certificate, Atilano has been certified to teach English, language arts, reading and English as a second language courses for grades 8-12.

Michelle Gonzalez, the interim superintendent with the Fabens Independent School District, emailed ABC-7 the following statement: “The employee is on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. The district is working with law enforcement and they have our full cooperation.”

The sheriff’s office did not reveal the age or gender of the student.

ABC-7 is working to obtain the criminal complaint affidavit to learn more about the allegations against Atilano.