PHOENIX -- Dozens of Arizona teachers are accused of having inappropriate or illegal relationships with students each year, and critics say there are ways to prevent those cases of abuse.

In the last six years, more than 100 Arizona teachers lost their license to teach for violations that included sexual abuse of students.

Clinical social worker Sandra Nettles, who counsels teachers who have been arrested for abusing students, said some of these teachers are sexual predators who chose the career in order to have access to children.

Others who are not predisposed to this behavior are simply unable to maintain boundaries, Nettles said.

"I don't think they emphasize enough that having sex with an underage person is a crime," she said. "Boys are not taught that. Girls are not taught that. Teachers are not taught that."

According to Augustine Jimenez, an attorney who has handled cases of children abused by adults in positions of power, in almost every case he sees, the alleged abuser was allowed access to the victim in private and built the inappropriate relationship over time.

"Anybody who is in contact with minor children should have a standard protocol as to how to conduct themselves," Jimenez said.

Some school districts, such as Paradise Valley School District, already have specific guidelines regarding contact between teachers and students outside the classroom.

"A teacher would have to tell the parents in advance in writing the purpose for the communication that might be taking place between the student and the teacher outside of the school day," spokeswoman Judi Willis said.

Willis said teachers in the district cannot communicate with students via Facebook or MySpace. If teachers and students must speak online, they can use the chat services on the district's Web site, which is subject to monitoring.

"There's an electronic record of what's taking place," she said.

Nevertheless, not all school districts have rules; each makes up its own, as Valley mother Carrie Hill discovered when she found out her daughter was allegedly dating one of her teachers.

Hill said her 15-year-old daughter's grades dropped and her mood changed after she got involved with her high school teacher and track coach, Clint Santoro.

"Honestly, I didn't realize something was as wrong as it was until it was already too late," Hill said. "He absolutely crossed the line with the late night phone calls -- just being in constant communication with her, with sharing his personal problems with her."

At one point in the three-year teacher/student relationship, Hill said she confronted Santoro about his relationship with her daughter, and she secretly tape-recorded it.

"A teacher should never become romantically involved with a student, period ... Even if it ultimately works out, that is crappy judgment." - Superior Court Judge Paul Katz

In the recording, Santoro denies having sex with the teen; however, he does pledge his love for her.

Hill gave the recording to Surprise police, and Santoro's wife gave police physical evidence, which the Arizona Department of Public Safety is analyzing.

Additionally, Hill called Willow Canyon High School to report what she knew. Santoro had already resigned his position, and he has since worked at two more schools.

When 5 Investigates asked Willow Canyon High School and the other two schools whether they knew about the allegations, one school said they did not know of the allegations when he was there. Another allowed him to stay, and the third said it knew but allowed Santoro to continue teaching.

The girl, who is now 18, and Santoro currently live together.

When asked to comment on the allegations, Santoro declined. He has not been arrested or charged with a crime; however, the investigation is ongoing, and he is still certified to teach.

State Superintendent Tom Horne said he does not have the authority to enact uniform guidelines for contact between teachers and students.

"I'd like to unify everything," he said. "I'd like to be the one who makes decisions for all the schools."

Still, Horne said even if he had the power, he doesn't think it's a good idea to make it more difficult for teachers to develop healthy relationships with students.

More Information Discover your school district's policy is on outside contact between teachers and students by calling a school's principal or going to a school board meeting Symptoms Of Child Sexual Abuse Facts For Families

"I've known a lot of highly accomplished people who had terrible home lives, and who succeeded in life because of a role model from a teacher," he said. "And if you interfere with that too much, you could do more harm than good."

Critics, however, argue the current system harms victims, and protecting would-be victims outweighs inconveniencing good teachers.

"We already know that historically this type of thing happens," Jimenez said. Children are beautiful people and they're preyed upon by sick people."

At Santoro's divorce hearing, the presiding judge had some harsh words for the teacher.

"A teacher should never become romantically involved with a student, period," said Superior Court Judge Paul Katz. "He should isolate himself. It's bad -- very poor judgment. Even if it ultimately works out, that is crappy judgment."

SLIDESHOW: 'Desert Divas' Booking Photos

SLIDESHOW: Here Are Some Stars Immortalized In Plastic

SLIDESHOW: Look Inside Arpaio's Tent City

SLIDESHOW: Which Kitten Is Cutest?

SLIDESHOW: Reader-Submitted Tattoo Photos

SLIDESHOW: James Bond Stars: Then, Now

SLIDESHOW: Celebrities Commit Fashion Faux Pas

• ELSEWHERE ON KPHO.COM: A 38-year-old Nevada woman was arrested Wednesday night on suspicion of executing a shoplifting scheme at 19 Target stores from Tucson to the Phoenix area, police said.
  Read More: Police: Target Scheme Lands Woman In Jail
• MORE SLIDESHOWS: From the bizarre to the tragic to breaking news, visit the KPHO.com slideshow section and click away!