Dowling High School Teacher Arrested for Sexual Exploitation of Student

Kristen Gantt, an English teacher at Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines, has been arrested for allegedly engaging in an inappropriate sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student in her class. Police obtained communications between Gantt and the student on email and Instagram that appeared personal and flirtatious in nature. Despite denials from both Gantt and the student, messages collected through numerous sources show that an ongoing relationship had taken place between the two which was sexualized in nature, had occurred inside and outside of school grounds, and included numerous electronic platforms.