UPDATE: Termination Process Begins for Stratford Teacher Accused of Sexual Assault

Update: Stratford Superintendent of Schools Janet Robinson sent a termination letteron Friday to the teacher accused of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old boy when she was tutoring him at his Stratford home.

Robinson told the Connecticut Post that the termination proceedings have begun for Michelle Sulzicki, 28, of Oxford, and the allegations in the arrest warrant were sufficient grounds to fire her.

Sulzicki, who does not have tenure, can challenge the termination by requesting a board hearing and will remain on the payroll for the time being, according to the Post.

Read more at the Connecticut Post here.

Original story

The investigation into the alleged sexual relationship between a Stratford teacher and a student began when the boy came forward to officials out of fear that he might be the father of her baby, according to NBC Connecticut.

Police were contacted about allegations of inappropriate conduct between a teacher’s aide and a juvenile on Sept. 24, according to Captain Paul DosSantos.

Michelle Sulzicki, 28, a special education teacher in the Stratford school system, was arrested as a result of the investigation and turned herself into Stratford Police custody on Oct. 14.

Sulzicki was charged with first-degree sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault, illegal sexual contact with a minor and risk of injury to a minor.

The Connecticut Post reports the now 15-year-old boy will undergo tests to determine if he is the father of Sulzicki’s 5-month-old daughter.

The boy told police he had sex with Sulzicki 20 times over a two-year period, beginning when he was 12 years old when she was tutoring him at his Stratford home, according to the Post.

When she was interviewed by Stratford police detectives, Sulzicki initially denied having any sexual contact with the boy but then admitted they had sex once when he was in sixth grade, according to the Hartford Courant. She also denied that the boy was the father of her daughter.

Sulzicki also told detectives that she “did not charge the family for tutoring the victim and did it voluntarily,” according to the Courant.

Sulzicki, a special education teacher at Chapel Elementary School in Stratford the past four years, is a graduate of Bunnell High School and Central Connecticut State University and received a master’s degree from Fairfield University, according to the Post.

She was a teacher’s aide when the alleged relationship began.

The Stratford school district placed Sulzicki placed on leave and is in the process of terminating her from the staff.

In a note sent to parents Wednesday afternoon, Stratford Superintendent of Schools Janet Robinson wrote that “outrage and appalled are the only words that can describe these very disturbing allegations.”

“I want you all to know that the moment we became aware of possible misconduct, the teacher, Michelle Sulzicki, was placed on administrative leave and kept from any interactions with students,” Robinson wrote. “We have been told by investigators that no impropriety occurred on school property and that this happened outside of school hours. Nonetheless, we have zero tolerance for this violation of trust.

“As educators, our mission is to protect and educate all students and at all times, to act in their best interests. I am proud of the great work of our dedicated Stratford teachers and we cannot let the actions of this one individual blemish all that they do for our students day in and day out.

“We appreciate the due diligence of the Stratford Police Department, with whom we have worked closely through this process.”

Sulzicki’s bail was set at $100,000, which she posted Wednesday afternoon, and she is due back in court on Nov. 3.

Stratford Police Department Photo