{"id":31025,"date":"2025-10-27T13:12:31","date_gmt":"2025-10-27T18:12:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/chicago\/2025\/10\/27\/cps-special-education-teaching-assistant-charged-in-grooming-of-13-year-old-student\/"},"modified":"2025-10-27T13:12:32","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T18:12:32","slug":"cps-special-education-teaching-assistant-charged-in-grooming-of-13-year-old-student","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/chicago\/2025\/10\/27\/cps-special-education-teaching-assistant-charged-in-grooming-of-13-year-old-student\/","title":{"rendered":"CPS special education teaching assistant charged in grooming of 13-year-old student"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction to the Case<\/h1>\n

A Chicago Public Schools special education teaching assistant remains behind bars Monday after he was accused of grooming a 13-year-old student at Gresham Elementary School on the South Side.<\/p>\n

Details of the Allegations<\/h2>\n

Mycale R. Ford, 41, was charged with felony grooming after allegedly texting a 13-year-old girl over Instagram in March asking for photos of the girl\u2019s body in return for money, according to Chicago police reports obtained by the Sun-Times. Ford, who police reports said was a substitute teacher at Gresham Elementary, 8524 S. Green St., \u201chad months of contact with the victim and would go to her classroom,\u201d according to court documents from his Thursday detention hearing.<\/p>\n

Position of Authority and Abuse of Trust<\/h3>\n

During the hearing, the judge ruled that clear and convincing evidence was presented by state prosecutors showing Ford was \u201cin a position of authority over [a] vulnerable vic[tim] and abused trust,\u201d court documents show. Ford \u201cshows a lack of self-restraint and a compulsion that he cannot inhibit,\u201d court documents stated. \u201cRealistically, no conditions, even electronic monitoring, could limit [Ford\u2019s] access to children or electronic devices.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arrest and Detention<\/h4>\n

Ford moved to Florida before coming back to his South Holland home, where he was arrested Oct. 22 and admitted to the offense, police said. Ford remained behind bars as of Monday afternoon, according to the Cook County sheriff\u2019s office.<\/p>\n

Response from Chicago Public Schools<\/h2>\n

When asked about Ford, the Chicago Public Schools said in a statement that it acts \u201cswiftly and decisively\u201d when credible concerns about employee behavior arise. \u201cChicago Public Schools holds all employees to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct. While CPS does not comment on specific personnel matters or active investigations, the District follows a consistent process when allegations of misconduct are reported. CPS is firmly committed to maintaining safe, ethical, and supportive learning environments for every student and staff member,\u201d according to the statement. \u201cThe District continually reviews and strengthens its safeguards, including robust ethics training, oversight procedures, and accountability measures to protect our school communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

Previous Incidents<\/h3>\n

Ford\u2019s next court date was scheduled for Nov. 12. Earlier this year, a former CPS dean was sentenced to 22 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of sexually abusing a student at a Little Village high school. In a separate case last October, the families of three boys allegedly sexually abused by a former CPS teacher settled their lawsuit against the school board for $2 million. \u201cLet\u2019s be clear: This settlement is not a victory to be celebrated,\u201d said Patrycja Karlin, a lawyer for the families in the suit, at a news conference at the time the settlement was announced. \u201cIt is merely the beginning of a much larger fight for accountability.\u201d<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

The case of Mycale R. Ford highlights the importance of vigilance and swift action in protecting students from abuse and exploitation. It also underscores the need for robust safeguards and accountability measures within educational institutions to prevent such incidents. The response from Chicago Public Schools indicates a commitment to maintaining safe learning environments, but the recurrence of such incidents suggests a need for continuous review and strengthening of these measures.<\/p>\n

FAQs<\/h2>\n