Accused Perv Teacher Facing 55 Sex Crime Charges Still Appears in School Yearbook

Christina Formella, a former teacher at Downers Grove South High School in suburban Chicago, appears in the school's latest yearbook three times, despite facing serious criminal charges. Her presence in the yearbook comes after her arrest in March for allegedly raping a teenage student approximately 50 times.

Formella, who recently married her high school sweetheart in August, surrendered her professional educator license on June 17, as confirmed by documents from the Illinois State Board of Education. She faces 55 charges, including aggravated sexual assault and grooming, with potential sentencing of up to 60 years if convicted.

The 2024-25 yearbook features Formella's headshot alongside group photos with the boys' soccer team and the junior varsity girls' soccer team she coached. This inclusion has raised eyebrows given the nature of the allegations against her.

During court appearances, Formella's husband has remained supportive. Prosecutors allege that she began grooming the victim when he was just 14 years old. Investigators claim that the assaults occurred at the school where she worked as a special education teacher, with at least 45 incidents reported on school grounds and five more at her home during school hours.

The illicit relationship reportedly began in January 2023 and ended in September of the same year. A spokesperson for the school stated that the yearbook printing commenced in March, prior to Formella's arrest. "Even so, Formella was an employee of the school district, and so is included in the yearbook," the spokesperson explained.