Accused woman gives up teaching credentials

Feb 26, 2010 — East Valley Tribune

Gary Grado

Feb. 26, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- The 49-year-old high school teacher at the center of a deadly love triangle involving a student and former student has surrendered her teaching credentials.

Tamara Hofmann handed over her teaching certificate Dec. 7, and the state Board of Education accepted it at its Jan. 25 meeting, according to board records.

Charles Easaw, chief investigator for the board, said in an e-mail that Hofmann can apply for a new certificate in five years.

The state filed a complaint against Hofmann, alleging unprofessional conduct "based upon romantic and sexual contact with two different students."

According to court records and police reports, Sixto Balbuena, 21, stabbed Samuel Valdivia, 18, to death after Balbuena walked into Hofmann's Chandler home on April 10 to find her naked with Valdivia, who was wearing only boxer shorts.

Balbuena and Hofmann were engaged, according to the police report.

Hofmann taught math at El Dorado High School, a Chandler charter school where Valdivia was a senior.

According to police reports, the romance between Hofmann and Balbuena dated back to at least November 2006, when he was a 17-yearold student of Hofmann's at Marcos de Niza High School in Tempe.

That is when Chandler police found them together in a parked car and Balbuena had her bra in his pocket.

The Board of Education opened an investigation into the incident but failed to indicate in its teacher database that she was under scrutiny, so El Dorado hired her believing she had a clean record. Balbuena is scheduled for trial May 18. Hofmann couldn't be reached for comment.

CONTACT WRITER:

(480) 898-6573

or ggrado@evtrib.com

Newstex ID: KRTB-0132-42405441