A former Ballarat teacher who last month admitted to having sexual liaisons with two students has fronted court for her plea hearing.

Michelle Lynn Dennis, 33, pleaded guilty in the County Count at Ballarat in October to two counts of sexual penetration of a child under supervision and one count of sexual penetration of a child under 16.

Dennis was teaching at Ballarat High School when she committed the offences against two students in 2007.

The former music teacher engaged in the sexual acts outside the school's grounds.

Dennis was arrested and charged in October, 2008, and stood down from the school.

She was also suspended from teaching by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.

Today's plea hearing is being heard by Judge Susan Cohen.

A former Ballarat teacher will spend Christmas behind bars for having sex with two students.

Michelle Lynn Dennis, 33, had sex with the boys, aged 14 and 17, while employed as a music teacher at Ballarat High School.

School principal jailed for sex with student


The County Court at Ballarat heard that Dennis sent more than 1300 text messages to the students over a two-year period.

She also sent one of the boys naked pictures of herself and invited one of his friends to have a threesome with them.

Dennis pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual penetration of a child under supervision and one count of sexual penetration of a child under 16.

She was convicted and sentenced to four years and three months' jail, with a minimum of two years and 10 months to serve.

Judge Susan Cohen described the offences as "serious" and said she had shown little remorse for her actions.

"Teachers have a high ability to influence students and that gives them a responsibility not to abuse their position," she said.

Judge Cohen said Dennis had initiated the sexual liaisons.

''Each occasion was instigated by you where you drove them somewhere inappropriate,'' she said.

Dennis sat in the dock with her head down during the hearing and cried when her sentence was read out to the court.

The Courier