Image sources: Michael Scott Burrows, as published by 1040 WHO. Google Street View of Ankeny Christian Academy, © Google, via Google Maps.
Ankeny Christian Academy band teacher Michael Scott Burrows is facing accusations of child sex abuse.
The Ankeny Police Department arrested Michael Scott Burrows, 50, on September 10, 2025, and charged him with three counts of lascivious acts with a child. (ankenyiowa.gov)
Police began their investigation into Burrows after receiving a tip on August 8, 2025. According to the City of Ankeny News Release, the tip alleged that Burrows had “inappropriately touched a child between August 25, 2021, and May 20, 2022.” The reported misconduct took place while Burrows was working as a band teacher at Ankeny Christian Academy, where the child attended school.
According to the Des Moines Register, “Court records describe multiple incidents with a sixth grade student where Burrows allegedly pressed himself into the girl’s backside while she was playing percussion instruments. The student also reported incidents where Burrows reportedly found her at her locker, whispered into her ear and grabbed her waist while pressing into her.”
An archived webpage shows Burrows was listed on the school’s staff directory as of August 4, 2025. The Des Moines Register reported that “His profile has since been removed from the site.” The school’s communications director wrote to the Register,“‘Student safety is a top priority,’” and withheld comments on Burrows’ employment status.
Burrows was booked into the Polk County Jail and later released on a $50,000 bond. He is subject to GPS monitoring and is prohibited from contacting the reported victim or any other minors. He is also barred from locations frequented by children, such as the YMCA, schools, libraries, and playgrounds. On September 19, 2025, he waived his preliminary hearing and entered a plea of not guilty.
According to the City of Ankeny News Release, “Anyone with additional information or who has had similar experiences with Burrows is encouraged to contact the Ankeny Police Department by calling 515-286-3333, ext. 5.”
Burrows’ Teaching History
Before joining Ankeny Christian Academy, Michael Burrows worked in multiple schools in different states. According to the archived staff profile, he:
- Taught at Portland Christian School in Portland, Oregon for four years
- Taught for one year at an unknown school in Las Vegas
- Spent 13 years teaching band and piano at Servite High School, a private, Catholic prep school in Anaheim, California
- Worked as as a pep band director at California Baptist University in Riverside, California, beginning in 2017
He also held various church roles including directing choirs, teaching Sunday School, and participating in youth ministry.
This record of employment across multiple states shows how predators can exploit opportunities by moving between schools and youth-serving organizations. Employment and location changes can obscure patterns of abuse, but failures to intervene or report leave children vulnerable.
Civil Liability
As a school, Ankeny Christian Academy carries a legal and ethical responsibility to protect the children in their care. That responsibility includes careful hiring practices, proper supervision of staff, and prompt reporting when concerns arise. When schools fail in these duties, children can be placed in harm’s way.
If evidence shows that Ankeny Christian Academy ignored red flags, failed to monitor Burrows appropriately, or did not act on complaints, they could face civil liability.
Survivors’ Rights
The criminal case against Michael Burrows will determine whether he is found guilty and punished under Iowa law. But criminal proceedings do not address the personal impact on survivors or provide them with direct support. For that, survivors often turn to the civil justice system.
A civil case can help provide financial resources for therapy, medical care, educational support, and other tools needed for recovery. Civil action also holds schools and institutions accountable by confronting systemic failures, strengthening safeguards, and working to prevent future abuse.
No survivor should have to carry the burden of abuse alone. Civil litigation can be an important step toward healing, validation, and ensuring that institutions live up to their responsibility to keep students safe.
Legal Help for Survivors
If you or someone you love was harmed by Michael Scott Burrows or experienced abuse in a school setting, help is available.
At Andreozzi + Foote, we represent survivors of school sexual abuse and institutional negligence nationwide. You may be entitled to seek justice through a civil lawsuit against the institution that failed to protect you.
We are here to listen and to help you understand your rights in a safe, respectful, and confidential setting.
Contact us today for a free consultation.
