A Milwaukee woman is accused of impersonating a substitute teacher at her former high school. During two class periods, she allegedly insulted students, used offensive racial and sexual language, and asked personal questions before staff discovered she was not authorised to be on campus.
The incident occurred on 24 September at Rufus King International High School, where Amy Jones, 23, allegedly posed as a substitute teacher. She currently faces six felony charges.
The case further prompted online discussion about how easily Jones accessed the school and posed as a substitute teacher, raising concerns about the risks of unauthorised adults on campus. Student accounts and Jones's statements to detectives provide more detail about her actions in the classroom.
How Jones Entered the School
According to the criminal complaint, Jones visited Rufus King approximately one week before the incident and learned to enter the building by blending in with students. During this visit, she reportedly overheard staff discussing the substitute teacher agency. On that day, eight teachers were absent, seven substitute positions were filled, but one remained open.
Jones told detectives she entered the building with students, passed security screening, and approached the office. She allegedly claimed to be a substitute teacher from the agency and signed the register as 'Amy Jones sub'.
Soooo many questions - what school allows someone to pretend to be a teacher? She could have physically harmed kids just as easily as calling them names - wow - that system needs to be looked at.
— N73Mag (@N73Mag) October 7, 2026
A certified teacher initially stayed in the classroom with Jones for about 20 minutes. After the teacher left, Jones allegedly made inappropriate remarks and interacted with students.
Investigators later confirmed that Jones was not employed by the substitute agency and had no assignment at the school. Principal Doreen Badillo reportedly stated that Jones 'got lucky because there happened to be an unfilled position'.
Students Describe Conduct
Students told investigators that Jones used profane, racially charged, and sexually derogatory language, and separated students by race and gender. One student reported that Jones called another pupil 'fat boy'. She allegedly asked students if they were gay or virgins and asked one student if she wanted to be a 'stripper or a hooker'.
Another student told police that Jones described two white boys as the type of individuals who would initiate school shootings. The criminal complaint further alleges that Jones discussed sexual acts, marijuana, theft, prostitution, and jail with students.
She allegedly asked if anyone had marijuana or a vape and then complained that the class was 'so fucking lame and annoying'. Jones reportedly played rap music at a high volume and encouraged students to sing along.
Students told investigators that she mocked pupils based on their weight, race, appearance, and financial circumstances. Several students recorded parts of the alleged interactions, and police later obtained multiple videos during the investigation.
The students eventually reported Jones' conduct to school staff. Principal Badillo contacted the substitute teacher agency, which confirmed that Jones was not an employee.
Jones was escorted from the building, and Milwaukee Public Schools notified school resource officers and the district's Title IX coordinator. The district also opened an internal investigation.
Social Media Reacts
The allegations quickly prompted a variety of responses on social media. Some commenters discussed school safeguards and substitute teaching standards, noting the difficulties in filling vacant positions.
Others responded with humour, writing: 'Worth knowing how low the bar actually is: most states only require a high school diploma or 60 college credits to sub, and districts sitting on 20%+ unfilled sub days tend to loosen it further. Vetting gets thin fast when the fill rate is the metric being managed.' Substitute-teacher requirements vary across the US: 2023 NCTQ data from 148 large districts found that 40% required only a high-school diploma, while 30% required at least some college coursework.
Another commenter highlighted potential risks, stating, 'She could have physically harmed kids just as easily as calling them names – wow – that system needs to be looked at.' Other commenters responded sarcastically, saying, 'When did it become a crime for women to have hobbies? ' and 'Early 2000s in my high school, she would have gotten jumped.' However, some users objected to the humorous treatment of the allegations, writing, 'People are so unserious; no adult should be able to walk into a school freely and abuse them. It's not funny, quirky or cool.'
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Jones Wanted To Be Famous
Jones allegedly told students she had felony and misdemeanour charges and expressed comfort with the possibility of incarceration. During a 30 September interview with detectives, Jones reportedly admitted to entering the school and falsely presenting herself as a substitute teacher. According to the complaint, Jones told investigators she understood she was being questioned for 'impersonating a teacher'.
She also acknowledged discussing sensitive topics with students, including a 'birds and the bees talk' – a discussion about sex and reproduction – and conceded, 'It was not appropriate'. She believed the incident would make her 'famous'.
When an investigator suggested she would more likely become 'infamous', she responded enthusiastically, snapping her fingers and dancing. Jones explained she went to the school because she was bored and disliked children and stated she 'just wanted to fool around'.
School Reviews and Jones' Felony Charges
Principal Doreen Badillo informed families that Jones passed the daily safety scan. However, the office did not follow district protocol to verify her as an authorised substitute.
Jones faces one felony count of impersonating a public employee and five felony counts of exposing a child to harmful descriptions. She appeared in Milwaukee County court on 6 October, when the court set a £3,788 ($5,000) signature bond. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for 20 October.
The district is reviewing its safeguards, retraining staff, and providing support to students in the affected classes. The criminal case, meanwhile, is pending, and Jones is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
