In a case that has sent ripples through the education community, Zoe Chandler, a substitute teacher from Maricopa, has voluntarily surrendered her teaching credentials following allegations of an inappropriate relationship with an 18-year-old student. This development was reported by the original article on InMaricopa.
Chandler, who was certified to teach in PreK-12 classrooms, became the subject of a Maricopa police report and an internal investigation by the Maricopa Unified School District (MUSD) earlier this year. The district, upon discovering the alleged breach of policy, promptly notified the Arizona Department of Education’s Investigative Unit. According to Chandler’s Facebook profile, she graduated from a San Diego area high school in 2019 and was employed by MUSD as a high school English teacher on January 2, 2024. Previously, she worked at EdKey, the charter school operating Sequoia Pathway Academy in Maricopa.
Maricopa Unified School District spokesperson Mishell Terry stated, “An internal review found that Ms. Chandler violated Governing Board Policy. A report of unprofessional conduct was submitted to the Arizona Department of Education on January 31, 2025. Ms. Chandler resigned effective the same day, and her resignation was approved by the Governing Board at its meeting on February 12.” Notably, there is no active investigation at present.
The Arizona State Board of Education, during their meeting on April 28, documented that several students were interviewed, with two confirming the relationship. Despite the Maricopa Police Department opening a case, Chandler was not charged with any crime nor arrested. InMaricopa has filed a Freedom of Information Act request to obtain further details on the case.
Chandler held two active teaching credentials: a Substitute Certificate valid through March 16, 2030, and an Alternative Teaching Certificate expiring January 16, 2026. On February 11, she voluntarily surrendered both, thus ending her eligibility to work in any Arizona district or charter school. Attempts by InMaricopa to contact Chandler by email and at her Maricopa residence were unsuccessful.
This case highlights the critical importance of maintaining professional boundaries in educational settings and the swift actions taken by educational authorities to uphold these standards.
