Oneonta Middle School teacher resigns following arrest

As an investigation continues, Blount County Sheriff Mark Moon held a news conference Wednesday to give details regarding the arrest of an Oneonta Middle School teacher on Aug. 5. According to Moon, seventh grade teacher and boy’s and girl’s soccer coach Luis Vazquez, 29, was charged with soliciting a sexual act with a student. He posted bond on Aug. 7 and was released from the Blount County Correctional Facility. On Aug. 8, he submitted his resignation, which was approved in an emergency-called board meeting later that afternoon.

This investigation began July 19 when Oneonta City Schools superintendent Craig Sosebee contacted Moon regarding information surrounding an alleged inappropriate relationship between a teacher and a student. An investigation began, and once it was determined that Vazquez was the suspect, the sheriff’s office obtained a search warrant for his phone and other items needed as part of the investigation. After securing the needed evidence, Vazquez was taken into custody.

Vazquez, who was hired in 2021 as a seventh grade teacher and soccer coach, admitted to the inappropriate relationship while being interviewed by investigators. He was immediately placed on administrative leave according to Sosebee.

Wednesday afternoon, just one day shy of opening the 2024-2025 school year, Sosebee said, “We’re very disappointed. We're heartbroken because our school is full of trustworthy, hard working teachers and staff who are excited to start a new year. We intend to deal with this head on, being as transparent as possible, and we have been fully cooperating with the sheriff’s office and working alongside them and our children’s center. We’re ready to open school tomorrow regardless, and the staff is eager and prepared to see the students. So I’m looking forward to getting the school year started and moving on from this.”

To help preserve the privacy of the student involved, Moon stated very little more information will be released. He understands that living in a small town that people talk and maybe even “put two and two together,” but it is his intent not to give any information that might aid in identifying the victim.

We will continue to follow this story and will bring you the latest information in next week's paper.