Crime & Safety
Chester Co. HS Teacher Stole Funds From Local Organization: DA
As treasurer of the group, the high school teacher was able to take large sums of money and deposit it in personal accounts, police said.
WEST CHESTER, PA — A high school teacher in Chester County used her position as treasurer or a local teacher's association to steal significant funds from the organization, the district attorney's office said.
Kathleen Elicker, 61, a West Chester resident and a teacher at Coatesville Area School District, was charged with theft, receiving stolen property, theft by unlawful taking, and numerous related counts.
The thefts occurred over a period of years, specifically during the 2019-2020 and 2022-2023 school years, the DA said.
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As the treasurer of the Coatesville Area Teachers Association, Elicker was able to "continuously misappropriate" the group's funds and deposit them into her personal accounts.
“This Defendant used her position of trust in the Coatesville Area Teachers Association to take money meant for her fellow teachers," Chester County District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe said in a statement. "These charges are a critical first step towards holding her accountable.”
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Elicker was released from Chester County Prison on $50,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is forthcoming.
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