The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 44-year-old STEM School Highlands Ranch teacher on suspicion of kidnapping and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Tera Johnson-Swartz was arrested Thursday after investigations by the county’s Special Victims Unit, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.
Johnson-Swartz worked with the charter school in the Douglas County School District from 2022 to Feb. 14, 2025, Matt Cartier, the school’s chief innovation officer, said in a public statement.
The former English teacher was previously named a finalist for Colorado’s 2025 Teacher of the Year award in 2024, according to a now-removed post from the Douglas County School District.
“A former high-school teacher was arrested last night and we are fully cooperating with authorities. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office notified us of an investigation into this individual on Jan. 21, 2025 and we immediately put her on paid-administrative leave, denying access to our campus, electronic records and students,” Cartier said in a public statement.
The suspect is in custody at the Douglas County Detention Center and is set to appear in court Wednesday for a filing of charges hearing.
Anyone with information about the case can contact Detective Randy Allen at rallen@dcsheriff.net.
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