San Jose woman arrested on suspicion of stealing $400,000 from school organization

The suspect served as the former president of the Schallenberger Home and School Association.

SAN JOSE – The former president of an association that supports enrichment programs at an elementary school in San Jose has been arrested on suspicion of writing more than $400,000 worth of unauthorized checks to herself, authorities said.

The San Jose Police Department launched an investigation last July after it received an online report about a potential theft from the Schallenberger Home and School Association, police spokesperson Stacie Shih wrote in a news release Wednesday.

The association backs enrichment programs at Schallenberger Elementary School, located at 1280 Koch Lane.

The probe uncovered suspicious financial transactions that occurred between 2019 and 2023, Shih said. The association’s president at the time was identified as a suspect.

The suspect – identified as a 51-year-old San Jose woman – wrote approximately 45 fraudulent checks to herself totaling more than $400,000, Shih said, adding that the checks were purported to be reimbursement for services that were not rendered.

Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for the suspect and a search warrant for her home. She was arrested Tuesday and booked into Santa Clara County jail on grand theft and forgery charges.

In a statement, the San Jose Unified School District said it looked forward to working with prosecutors on the case.

“San Jose Unified prides itself on the pillars of honesty and integrity and we take any allegations that run counter to those values very seriously,” the statement read.

Anyone with information related to the case can contact Detective Jason Wellman of the SJPD Financial Crimes Unit at 4447@sanjoseca.gov or 408-277-4521. Tips can also be left with Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at 408-947-7867 (STOP) or www.siliconvalleycrimestoppers.org.