Statement on criminal charges against former Cooper Middle School teacher

March 26, 2021

Topic: Updates

Yesterday, March 25, 2021, CCSD21 was informed by the Vernon Hills Police Department that former Cooper Middle School teacher Ilan Gibori was taken into custody after being charged with multiple counts of criminal sexual assault. Mr. Gibori left District 21 in July 2019 to pursue a different career opportunity. During the last year of his employment in CCSD21, the 2018-2019 school year, Mr. Gibori was a sixth grade teacher at Cooper.

The safety and well being of our students, past, present, and future, is our top priority and we will continue to work with law enforcement as it investigates this matter. 

Counseling and student support teams will be present at Cooper Middle School on Monday, March 29, and in the coming days to offer counseling and emotional support to any in-person or virtual student who may need it. 

If any member of the community has additional information to report on this matter, they are asked to contact the Vernon Hills Police Department Criminal Investigations Unit at 847-247-4891 or the Buffalo Grove Police Department at 847-459-2560.

Please do not hesitate to contact [email protected] with any questions.