A Westchester County teacher has been prohibited from entering the high school where he works following allegations of an attempted sexual assault on a minor in Connecticut this past Sunday.
Raymond Szczerba, who teaches science at Westlake High School in Thornwood, was taken into custody on charges of attempting to sexually assault and entice a child in Connecticut, as reported by News 12 Westchester.
Thornwood is located approximately 15 miles from the border between Connecticut and New York.
After his arrest was made public on Monday, Szczerba was placed on leave while an investigation is conducted. During this time, he is prohibited from entering the school or participating in any school-related activities, according to the news outlet.
While Szczerba’s profile has been removed from the high school’s website, it remains on the Mount Pleasant Central School District’s site.
Students, shocked by the news, shared online that Szczerba taught subjects ranging from earth science to oceanography. He was also a co-advisor for the school’s science olympiad team, leading a group of 18 students to a win in a February competition, as noted in a social media post by the MPCSD.
The district praised Szczerba and the team’s other advisor for “their dedication” that spurred “meaningful learning experiences for our students.”
Szczerba taught at Westlake for at least a decade, according to archived local reports.
It’s unclear where he was arrested or how old his purported victim was.
