Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Gulf Breeze High School teacher Molly Mersereau July 29 after numerous messages and an anonymous tip revealed an alleged romantic relationship between her and a student.
Mersereau was arrested on two counts of using a two-way device to commit a felony, one count of criminal solicitation, one count of an authority figure engaging in a romantic relationship with a student and one misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Here’s what to know about Mersereau and her case.
Who is Molly Mersereau?
Mersereau is a 36-year-old teacher for Gulf Breeze High School.
According to Gulf Breeze High School’s website, before Mersereau’s profile was seemingly removed, she was listed as a Career and Technical Education (CTE) or vocational (VOC) teacher. In a Facebook post made by Santa Rosa County District Schools in April, she was listed as a Hospitality and Tourism Academy teacher for Gulf Breeze High.
Mersereau was also a youth soccer coach as recently as 2024 with Bayside Rush Futbol Club, winning multiple boys and girls championships. According to Bayside Rush’s website, Mersereau grew up playing soccer and was a goalkeeper for Nicholls State University in 2011.
According to Bayside Rush’s Facebook page, Mersereau was also an assistant coach at Pensacola High School in 2020. Mersereau is also the founder and coach of Molly’s Keeper Academy.
Why was Molly Mersereau arrested?
SRSO Chief Deputy Randy Tift told the News Journal their investigators first received the information from the Gulf Breeze Police Department, who in turn had an anonymous Crime Stoppers tip of the alleged relationship.
Once deputies began investigating, Tift said they learned Mersereau gave the student a burner phone so they could discreetly communicate with each other.
“Love letters showed there was an active relationship (between the two),” Tift told the News Journal.
Tift also said the student was “technically a willing participant” in the relationship, but under Florida law minors are unable to consent to any type of sexual advance or relationship.
Santa Rosa County District Schools places Molly Mersereau on leave
Santa Rosa County District Schools provided the following statement to the News Journal:
“We are aware of the recent arrest of Molly Mersereau, who is employed by Santa Rosa County District Schools as a teacher. We take this matter very seriously. Immediately upon notification of the arrest, Ms. Mersereau has been placed on administrative leave with a recommendation of unpaid suspension to the board. We will continue to monitor the legal proceedings closely. The safety and well-being of our students remains our highest priority. No further comment will be made at this time due to the ongoing investigation.”
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Who is Molly Mersereau? GBHS teacher arrested for alleged relationship with student
Reporting by Benjamin Johnson, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
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