Police said Paulina Walden was arrested after a weeklong investigation into an alleged off-campus relationship with a student.
SAVANNAH, Ga. — A Jenkins High School teacher was arrested May 1 after police said education officials reported an alleged inappropriate sexual relationship involving a student, sending the case into a criminal investigation in Savannah.
Paulina Walden, 35, faces charges of improper sexual contact with a student and child molestation, according to Savannah police. The case has drawn attention because Walden worked in a public high school and because police said the alleged contact happened off campus. She was booked into the Chatham County Detention Center, where local reporting said she was being held without bond.
The Savannah Police Department said the Board of Education Police Department contacted city police on April 24 after receiving a report about a teacher and student. School administrators then moved Walden to a non-school location with no student contact while the allegation was reviewed. Because the alleged conduct occurred away from campus, Savannah police said they took the lead in the case. Walden was arrested May 1, about a week after the first report.
Walden taught English at Jenkins High School, part of the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System. Local reporting said she also taught mythology and public speaking and was involved with the school’s theater program. The district said she had worked for the school system since late 2023. Officials also said she remained a district employee while the case had not yet been decided in court, but she was not actively working with students.
The school district said it takes allegations of employee misconduct seriously and planned to report the matter to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. District officials said reassignment away from students is standard procedure when an employee faces allegations of inappropriate behavior. Local reporting said Walden’s teaching certification remained active through 2029 and did not show a listed ethics status issue at the time of the report.
Investigators have not released the student’s name, age, grade level or details about the alleged off-campus contact. Police have not said whether additional charges are expected. Authorities also have not released an arrest warrant or detailed timeline beyond the April 24 report, the administrative reassignment and the May 1 arrest. The allegations remain accusations, and Walden has not been convicted.
Georgia law bars improper sexual contact by school employees with students under listed circumstances. The state’s child molestation statute applies to certain immoral or indecent acts involving a child under 16. Penalties depend on the charge, the facts proved in court and any sentencing rules that apply. Local reporting said the charges could carry years in prison and major fines if prosecutors secure a conviction.
Walden previously worked at other schools in the Savannah area, according to local reporting. Her background included work with student programs outside a standard classroom, including theater and yearbook activities. A relative contacted by local reporters declined to comment. No public statement from Walden or a defense attorney had been reported as of the latest available coverage.
The investigation remains open. Police said Walden was transported to the Chatham County Detention Center after her arrest, and the next steps are expected to include continued evidence review, possible court hearings and decisions by prosecutors on how to move the case forward.
Author note: Last updated May 6, 2026.