High School Teacher Faces 63 Felony Charges After Allegedly Having Sex with 16-Year-Old Student

Michelle Mercogliano, 35, was charged on Wednesday after the 16-year-old boy's family contacted police. She faces 63 charges after allegedly having sex with the boy about 12 times, often after her parents' home

A Pennsylvania high school teacher is facing 63 felony charges after allegedly engaging in a sexual relationship with a student and supplying the teen with marijuana. Michelle Mercogliano, 35, a teacher at Conestoga High School in Chester County, is accused of unlawful contact with a minor, institutional sexual assault, and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, among other charges, according to court documents.

Authorities from the Chester County District Attorney’s Office and the Tredyffrin Township Police Department began investigating the allegations earlier this week after learning that Mercogliano had been involved in a months-long inappropriate relationship with a 16-year-old male student. The alleged misconduct began in February and continued through a series of sexual encounters, most of which reportedly took place at her parents’ home.

The student told investigators he had sexual intercourse with Mercogliano approximately a dozen times and that she also provided him with marijuana during their interactions. Communication between the two reportedly took place over Snapchat, a platform often used for discreet messaging, as cited in the criminal complaint.

Mercogliano was a relatively new teacher at Conestoga High School in Berwyn, Pennsylvania and had only started working there last fall, the superintendent said

Although Mercogliano has not yet been taken into custody, she is cooperating with law enforcement and has arranged a time to surrender herself, according to statements from the district attorney’s office.

Chester County District Attorney Christopher L. de Barrena-Sarobe condemned Mercogliano’s actions, stating, “Parents and students should be able to trust their teachers. The Defendant broke the law and destroyed that trust. It will not be tolerated.”

In response to the charges, the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District confirmed that Mercogliano was immediately placed on administrative leave and barred from all district properties. Superintendent Richard Gusick noted that she began teaching at Conestoga High School in the fall of 2024. Prior to that, she worked as a teacher at Hillside Elementary School from 2019 to 2024 and served as a paraprofessional at Hillside and Valley Forge Elementary Schools from 2014 to 2018.

School officials added that there is currently no evidence to suggest that any other students were involved in the ongoing criminal investigation.

The boy was also said to have been provided with marijuana by Mercogliano around 15 times. She allegedly communicated with him through snapchat 'as to go undetected,' or via text message