Two Teachers Accused of Sexual Misconduct with Student

Allegations of inappropriate relationships at Arizona high school prompt investigation

Apr. 3, 2026 at 4:42pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extreme close-up of a cracked smartphone screen reflecting a faint red light, conveying the violation and trauma of a teacher-student sexual abuse case through an abstract, investigative visual style.A shattered digital device reflects the disturbing aftermath of a teacher's alleged sexual misconduct with a student.Peoria Today

Two female teachers at a high school near Phoenix, Arizona have been accused of sexual misconduct with the same teenage student. The teachers, Haley Beck and Angela Burlaka, were placed on leave last August after the allegations surfaced. One teacher resigned while the other was fired, and the cases have been resubmitted to prosecutors for potential charges.

Why it matters

The case highlights the serious issue of teacher-student sexual abuse, which disproportionately impacts male victims. Experts say these types of cases are often minimized or treated as 'relationships' rather than the criminal abuse they represent. The investigation also raises questions about whether the school district responded appropriately to earlier concerns about the teachers' behavior.

The details

According to a police report, rumors of inappropriate relationships between teachers and students had circulated for months at Centennial High School in Peoria. The investigation found that Burlaka, a 25-year veteran teacher, allegedly recorded videos of herself naked while mentioning the student's name, which ended up on the student's phone. Shortly after, allegations also surfaced against Beck, a newer teacher hired in 2020, who is accused of grooming and sexually abusing the same student over his sophomore and junior years. Beck allegedly gave the student special treatment, gifts, and money, referring to herself as his 'sugar momma'.

  • In July 2025, the student's grandmother called authorities after seeing one of Burlaka's videos.
  • In August 2025, both teachers were placed on administrative leave after the allegations came to light.
  • In 2026, the Peoria Unified School District Governing Board unanimously voted to fire Beck, who has until April 8 to request a hearing to dispute the termination.

The players

Haley Beck

A 27-year-old teacher at Centennial High School who was hired in 2020 and is accused of grooming and sexually abusing a student over his sophomore and junior years.

Angela Burlaka

A 47-year-old teacher at Centennial High School who worked at the school for 25 years and is accused of recording videos of herself naked while mentioning a student's name.

Centennial High School

The high school near Phoenix, Arizona where the two teachers worked and the alleged misconduct took place.

Peoria Unified School District

The school district that employed the two teachers and took action to terminate Beck and accept Burlaka's resignation.

Peoria Police Department

The law enforcement agency investigating the allegations against the two teachers.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This was not a relationship. He was a child, and this was child abuse and child rape.”

— Jessica Nicely, Child abuse prevention specialist

“I need these educators and everybody in positions of authority to understand mandatory reporter training doesn't mean you know something's going on. It's that you have a reasonable belief. You suspect something, and clearly they all did. Why didn't any of them report this a long time ago?”

— Jessica Nicely, Child abuse prevention specialist

“We send our kids to your schools 10 months a year, five days a week, seven hours a day. So as a parent, I'm glad to see that these pedophiles like Haley Beck are being held accountable as much as possible.”

— Unidentified parent

What’s next

The Peoria Police Department said the investigation is ongoing and believes there could be more victims. Beck has until April 8 to request a hearing with the district to dispute her termination.

The takeaway

This case highlights the serious issue of teacher-student sexual abuse, which often involves male victims who are not taken as seriously. It also raises questions about whether schools are doing enough to identify and report suspected misconduct, even when evidence is not yet conclusive.