Former Conestoga High School teacher sentenced after admitting to having sex with student: DA

TREDYFFRIN TWP., Pa. (WPVI) -- A former Conestoga High School teacher has been sentenced to prison after admitting to having sex with a student, according to the Chester County District Attorney's Office.

(The video in the player above is from previous coverage.)

Michelle Mercogliano, 36, pleaded guilty on May 1 to two counts of institutional sexual assault and one count of corruption of minors.

She was sentenced to a minimum of 15 months in Chester County Prison. Mercogliano will also be supervised by probation for at least 80 months following her release and has been classified as a Tier II sex offender.

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Prosecutors said Mercogliano engaged in sexual activity with the student on multiple occasions beginning in February 2025. Authorities said most of the incidents occurred at her parents' home in Malvern.

As part of the plea, Mercogliano admitted to having sex with the student and to providing the student marijuana, the DA's office said.

An online post from the school district stated Mercogliano worked as an academic support teacher for ninth through 12th grades. Authorities said she was also employed as an adjunct professor at Immaculata University, where she taught Italian.

Before entering her guilty plea, Mercogliano surrendered her teaching license. She is also prohibited from working with children while on probation.