Unclear How Many St. Joseph Teachers Will Return For Fall

LOCKPORT, IL — There are numerous openings at St. Joseph Catholic School amid controversy over Jeremy Hylka and his former role as a teacher at the school.

Hylka, who has been fired by the Diocese of Joliet, faces a total of five criminal charges in connection with his April 27 visit to the Joliet McDonald's restaurant on Jefferson Street to, according to prosecutors, meet an underage boy for the purposes of a sexual encounter.

Hylka previously taught at Joliet Catholic Academy, but had been teaching at St. Joseph's in Lockport at the time of his arrest by Joliet Police Department.

Mary Massingale, director of communications for the diocese, said that teachers at the school have been offered contracts and "given an unlimited time frame" to decide if they want to return in the fall.

"Retirements and relocations have resulted in four openings, with the termination of Jeremy Hylka and the subsequent resignation of a teacher creating two additional openings," she said.

Multiple interviews with teacher candidates have been scheduled for the next week to fill out the teaching staff for the 2021-2022 school year, Massingale said.

When asked if there was a reason six teachers hadn't renewed their contracts, the diocese said it can't speculate on why.

• Jeremy Hylka Criminal Indictment Revealed: It's 5 Felonies
• Diocese: Jeremy Hylka 'Was Vetted Like Any Other Candidate'