The teacher is accused of providing substances to students and exploiting a teen who lived with her.
SANFORD, Fla. — A Seminole County teacher accused of giving students alcohol and drugs and having sexual contact with a student is facing felony charges as newly surfaced internal district records add scrutiny to how she communicated with teens before her arrest.
The criminal case against Mackenzie Lane McLean, a longtime educator at Crooms Academy of Information Technology, has drawn attention not only for the allegations themselves but also for what school district paperwork shows about earlier concerns. Investigators say a student described dependence on McLean for housing and food, while school officials say they moved quickly once law enforcement acted.
McLean, 49, of Lake Mary, was arrested Feb. 17 on two counts of sexual offense by an authority figure and one count tied to distributing a controlled substance. Authorities say the charges stem from allegations that McLean provided alcohol, marijuana and other substances to teens and young adults and engaged in sexual conduct with one male student while she held authority connected to his school. McLean taught world history, U.S. government and economics at Crooms Academy in Sanford, about 25 miles north of Orlando. Seminole County Public Schools placed her on administrative leave, saying it would not tolerate behavior that jeopardizes student and staff safety and that allegations of misconduct are handled quickly.
According to accounts summarized in law enforcement reports, the accuser was a male student who became close to McLean’s family and later moved into her home around March 2024 after he was kicked out of his own home. The student told detectives he looked to McLean as a “mother figure” before the relationship turned sexual. He said one of the earliest incidents happened after McLean gave him about 12 shots of gin while he was playing video games with McLean and her daughter. The student said he became severely intoxicated and that McLean told her daughter to leave the room before sexual contact began. The student told investigators he pushed her away and said it was wrong. Detectives later wrote that the student became emotional and cried while describing what he said happened.
The student told investigators he stayed in McLean’s home for about nine months and that the sexual contact continued beyond the first incident. He estimated he was sexually abused about five to 10 times during the two months when McLean was still his teacher. The student told detectives he did not report the allegations earlier because he feared losing a place to live and food to eat. In a line quoted in a report summarizing the student’s statement, the student said McLean would provide alcohol until he would allow sexual contact. The student also told investigators that McLean would scream until he allowed her to sleep in his bed, describing a home environment he said felt controlling. Investigators say some alleged events occurred even while the student was away at college, and they say McLean remained in contact with him after he graduated.
Other accounts in the investigation describe students gathering at McLean’s home and being given substances. One student told investigators she went to the home when she was 16 and was offered alcohol and marijuana gummies. Another student said teens sometimes drank and smoked so much that they passed out. Investigators also cited a friend of the student who said McLean provided Adderall, which investigators tied to the controlled-substance distribution charge. Detectives said they reviewed messages and other information the friend provided, including texts the friend said showed McLean acknowledging sexual contact. Authorities have not publicly released the names of students involved, and they have not said whether additional charges are expected. They also have not publicly described whether other adults were present during the gatherings, beyond references to McLean’s daughter in one alleged incident.
As the criminal case progressed, additional attention landed on school district paperwork described in a News 6 report that said it obtained internal documents. The report said the records show McLean had been warned previously about her communication with students and other actions during her employment. The district has not released those documents in full in a public filing, and school officials have not detailed in a public statement what the warnings involved, when they were issued, or what steps followed. The emergence of the records has raised broader questions about how school systems monitor boundaries when staff members interact with students outside class, especially in magnet programs that may encourage close mentoring relationships.
Crooms Academy is a magnet school that promotes technology-focused programs and college readiness, and it draws students from around Seminole County. The campus sits on Historic Goldsboro Boulevard in Sanford, near neighborhoods that carry long ties to the city’s Black history and civic life. The district said McLean began working for Seminole County Public Schools in August 2001, placing her among veteran teachers in the system. The district’s public statement after her arrest said any allegations of misconduct are taken seriously and handled quickly, and it emphasized that safety is the highest priority. Law enforcement agencies have not said whether they notified the district before serving the arrest warrant, or whether the district conducted a separate investigation before the arrest.
In court, prosecutors are expected to rely on interviews, messages, and timeline evidence that establishes McLean’s role as an authority figure tied to a student at the time of the alleged conduct. Florida’s authority-figure charge can apply even when the student is 18, if the accused holds a position of authority connected to the school. Public reports in the days after McLean’s arrest have described custody and potential release conditions, including mention of monitoring requirements if bond is posted. Court schedules list a hearing date of March 31, when the judge can address the next steps, including motions, scheduling, and any conditions that remain in place.
The case has prompted strong reactions among educators and families because it involves allegations of trust being used as leverage. Investigators say the student described dependence on McLean for basic needs, while school officials say they acted once the arrest occurred by placing her on leave. Attorneys connected to McLean in public reports did not immediately provide a detailed response to the allegations, and investigators have not released any statement from McLean. Authorities have not said whether they collected physical evidence from the home, and they have not released video or audio recordings that might be presented later in court.
McLean remained in custody as proceedings continued, and the next major milestone is the March 31 court appearance, when the case timeline and any release conditions are expected to be clarified on the record.
Author note: Last updated February 22, 2026.