(WHDH) — A middle school teacher has been suspended without pay after she was recently arrested on charges in connection with an alleged sexual relationship involving a student, officials said.
Hayley Hallmark, a 35-year-old teacher and coach at Ruckel Middle School in Niceville, Florida, is facing charges including lewd and lascivious conduct with a student by an authority figure, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.
The alleged relationship started in August 2018 when authorities say Hallmark started texting the student, a 15-year-old girl, the Northwest Florida Daily News reported.
Hallmark then began “sexting” the student before meeting up for a number of physical encounters at different locations, the sheriff’s office said.
The relationship is said to have ended in August 2020 and a warrant for Hallmark’s arrest was issued on Feb. 5 after the victim confided in a teacher at Niceville High School.
“Superintendent Marcus Chambers placed a Ruckel Middle School employee on administrative leave on Thursday after learning of allegations of inappropriate behavior involving a student,” the Okaloosa County School District said in a statement.
Hallmark will remain on leave pending the outcome of an investigation.
She is currently being held at the Okaloosa County Jail.
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