Early Thursday, Aug. 17, Cottonwood police arrested Isabella Miller-Bowman, a 22-year-old teacher at Dr. Daniel Bright School, for an alleged sexual conduct involving a 17-year-old juvenile male.
“Officers were called to Bowman’s residence late Wednesday night, early Thursday morning, for an argument between her and her husband, and that argument was because he had discovered she was having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old,” Cottonwood Police Sgt. Monica Kuhlt said.
The Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District has placed Miller-Bowman on administrative leave pending the investigation. COCSD Superintendent Steve King said the district has placed a long-term substitute in her classes and is waiting on further information from CPD before taking further action.
“COCSD is committed to the safety of all students and expects all staff to adhere to the highest ethical practices and conduct when it comes to our community’s children,” King wrote in a letter to parents. “We must all work together, staff, students, families and community to provide a safe learning environment for children to learn, grow and thrive.”
The alleged victim is not a student in the Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District.
“Even though Bowman is a teacher at DDB, it doesn’t appear any of the students at the Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District were involved or that there was any inappropriate contact with those students,” Kuhlt said. According to Kuhlt, the alleged relationship does not seem to have been related to any school setting.
King said COCSD administration had not encountered any related conduct problems with Miller-Bowman before the incident, and that they had no reason to believe this has affected any COCSD student. In her second year teaching at COCSD, Miller-Bowman taught first grade last year and was teaching middle school math this year.
“All of the facts as we know them are public record. When new facts arise, they’ll be communicated along with Cottonwood Police Department,” King said, directing parents to check the COCSD website and Facebook page for updates.
CPD stated it may add charges related to marijuana possession.
“While officers were on scene, they located a usable amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia that, based on their investigation and admissions, belonged to Isabella Bowman,” Kuhlt said.
The Yavapai County Attorney’s Office, which is handling prosecution, has not yet commented on possible charges.
Jon Hecht can be reached at 634-8551, or email jhecht@larsonnewspapers.com
