Teachers at Centennial High School are reportedly facing potential felony charges after a police investigation into a complaint of having inappropriate relationships with the same student.
Haley Beck, a 27-year-old social studies teacher and soccer coach at Centennial High, and Angela Burlaka, a 47-year-old teacher with 26 years of experience at the school, were placed on administrative leave in late 2025. Burlaka was terminated in January. The Peoria Unified School District school board approved Beck’s termination in March. She has until April 8 to request a hearing on her termination.
“After a review of the investigator’s findings, the decision maker found that Ms. Beck groomed a student, which resulted in her having a sexual relationship with that student, and therefore recommended her termination,” said Danielle Airey, a district spokesperson.
Peoria Police claim that the teacher exchanged sexually explicit messages with the student, spent more than $600 on the student during several weeks, helped the student with homework assignments, allowed the student to use her car, and purchased marijuana and alcohol on the student’s behalf. The student’s mother told the investigators that the student and the teacher’s relationship began when the student was 17.
According to the police records, Beck called the situation “straight prostitution” and referred to the student as her “sugar baby.” The investigation into the situation determined whether money and gifts were exchanged in return for the sexual acts.
Burlaka is accused of sending the student explicit videos of herself while the student was still a minor.
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office decided to charge Beck with the crime of inducing prostitution, as well as Burlaka, who is accused of aggravated luring of a minor for sexual exploitation. Still, the investigation has been returned to the police to investigate the situation further. As of the investigation, neither teacher has been arrested.
Centennial High School Principal Scott Hollabaugh told police he had received several complaints from students and staff about the situation involving Beck and the student.
Another school administrator said he had brought the situation to Hollabaugh’s attention, but the principal said the incident involving Beck and the student was not the first.
According to police records, unconfirmed witness reports suggest other students may have been involved in similar situations with the teachers.
“There has been repeated information that there are other students who are potential victims in this case,” the records state.
