Nixa special education teacher charged with sexual contact with student, statutory rape

A special education teacher who worked at Nixa's Inman Intermediate School was charged Wednesday with nine felonies, including statutory rape and sexual contact with a student.

Chelsea Paige Harper, 34, of Nixa, worked for Nixa Public Schools from 2013 through 2022, including at the Summit Intermediate School and Nixa High School, and was rehired to teach at Inman for this school year.

Court documents used to charge Harper allege she was involved in a sexual relationship with a student that started in 2022, while she was working as a paraprofessional at the high school, and continued through part of 2023.

The victim in the case was under the age of 17 but a specific age was not listed.

Harper has been charged with four counts of second-degree statutory rape, two counts of statutory sodomy and three counts of sexual contact with a student.

If convicted, each charge of statutory rape and statutory sodomy, are punishable by up to seven years in prison. Each charge of sexual contact with a student can carry up to four years in prison.

Zac Rantz, chief communications officer, said the allegations of inappropriate conduct were leveled against Harper last month.

"The district takes all allegations such as this extremely seriously," Rantz said. "The teacher was immediately placed on administrative leave and an investigation was conducted in cooperation with the appropriate authorities."

In a statement, Rantz said: "The investigation quickly revealed sufficient facts to the board to allow it to move on and vote to terminate this teacher’s employment at the May 6 board meeting. The district did not comment immediately after the May 6 board meeting to allow the authorities to continue to conduct their investigation. The district will continue to follow policy and procedure and cooperate fully as the investigation by authorities continues."

Harper, who was issued an initial teaching certification in elementary education and K-12 special education in 2023, worked at Orchard Hills Elementary in the Willard district during the 2022-23 year.

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The case has been investigated by the Nixa Police Department. The News-Leader reached out the city for more details.

A statement provided by spokeswoman Macie Thornhill confirmed Nixa police initiated an investigation in April after allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a student occurred while Harper was employed at the high school.

In a statement, Thornhill said an arrest warrant was issued for Harper and that she turned herself in Wednesday. She was booked, released and ordered not to have contact with any minors except her own children.

A hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. June 26 in front of Christian County Judge Douglas Bacon. She does not yet have an attorney listed in court records.

"Investigations of this nature are complex and often very time-consuming. This investigation is active and ongoing; therefore, specific information cannot be disclosed at this time to avoid making extrajudicial statements that could potentially prejudice legal proceedings."

Anyone with additional information about the incident or related issues can contact the police at 417-725-2510.