Albuquerque, NM – Parents of a former Cibola High School student have filed a lawsuit against Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) alleging that the district failed to act on warnings about a teacher who allegedly groomed students and began sexual relationships with them shortly after they turned 18.
Allegations against former teacher
Melissa Lucero, 43, was permanently barred from teaching in New Mexico earlier this year after the state Public Education Department (PED) found she engaged in professional misconduct, ethical misconduct, and acts of moral turpulence. Court documents say Lucero began a sexual relationship with a student, identified as John Doe, weeks after his 18th birthday in 2025. The documents also allege she had been communicating with him on Instagram since his sophomore year.
Family’s account
John Doe’s father, who wishes to remain anonymous, said he noticed a change in his son’s behavior during his senior year and later discovered messages between his son and Lucero. He described the discovery as “disgusting.” Target 7 obtained Instagram messages from August 30, 2025, in which Lucero replied to a question about the size of her car with, “Big enough for what I’d be willing to do tonight.” The court filings state the pair met at Lucero’s apartment, drove around, and later engaged in sexual acts at a lookout point.
Lawsuit claims district negligence
The lawsuit asserts that Cibola High School’s administration knew of Lucero’s prior behavior but failed to intervene. Attorney Kate Ferlic, representing John Doe, said the school had received complaints from other male students and parents before the alleged relationship began. APS declined to comment on the pending litigation but said it would address the allegations in court.
Legal context and calls for reform
New Mexico law currently criminalizes sexual contact between a teacher and a student only if the student is between 14 and the day they turn 18. Both Ferlic and the plaintiff’s family are urging lawmakers to amend the statute to protect all high‑school students, regardless of age. “The family wants school administrators to take reports of this kind of conduct seriously,” Ferlic said. “We demand that the administration implement immediate concrete changes to vetting processes and oversight to ensure this never happens again.”
Background on the investigation
Lucero was placed on administrative leave on September 2, 2025, and resigned later that month. PED investigators also found she admitted to similar conduct with another former Cibola student. Although she was investigated criminally, no charges were filed for her actions with John Doe.
Target 7 reached out to Lucero for comment but did not receive a response.
Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.
