A 22-year-old physical education teacher in Rocky Hill has resigned from his post after allegations came to light that he had been charged with sexual assault in Springfield, The Hartford Courant reports.
Rocky Hill superintendent Mark F. Zito said Friday that Bryan MacDonald submitted his resignation Jan. 7 after being placed on administrative leave Dec. 16. The board of education officially accepted MacDonald's resignation at a meeting Thursday night.
"I would like to inform you that I am resigning from my position as physical education teacher at Stevens Elementary School, effective immediately. It was a pleasure working with the staff and students of Stevens Elementary School. Thank you for the opportunity to work for such an outstanding school district,'' MacDonald wrote in the letter, according to the Courant.
The Hartford Courant reports that MacDonald, a former star athlete at Rocky Hill High School, was one of two men charged with rape after sexually assaulting a waitress in a hotel room in June. MacDonald had been hired in Rocky Hill just five days before the incident.
"At no time, has there ever been any indication, complaint, or suggestion that the teacher in question acted inappropriately within the school setting or placed anyone within our school community at risk," Zito said in a statement posted on the Myrtle H. Stevens Elementary School PTO Facebook page. "The administration acted swiftly and appropriately upon learning about the alleged offense. The Board of Education is not in a position to comment further on a matter which is being adjudicated through the court system of another state."
MacDonald is the son of town council member and former board of education chairman William MacDonald.
