STRATFORD–A Stratford special education teacher who was arrested on Wednesday, October 14 on charges of sexually assaulting a student has been fired by the district.
On Friday, October 16 a letter of termination was sent by Stratford Superintendent Dr. Janet Robinson to Michelle Sulzicki.
“The details of the arrest warrant provided to me by the Stratford Police Department were sufficient grounds for termination of the Chapel Street teacher,” Robinson said in a statement.
The arrest warrant stated that a 15-year-old student came forward in September and told school officials that he was sexually assaulted by Sulzicki, 28, when he was in the sixth and seventh grades, or about 12 to 13 years old. The victim told a school social worker he had sexual intercourse on more than one occasion with Sulzicki.
The suspect was a teacher’s aide when the assaults first occurred, but had later been promoted to a full teaching position. She initially denied the charges, but later admitted to having sexual intercourse with the student once between his sixth and seventh grade years.
Dr. Janet Robinson, superintendent of schools, said while the alleged incident took place off school property, the system took immediate disciplinary action.
“Outraged and appalled are the only words that can describe these very disturbing allegations,” said Dr. Robinson. “I am now in the process of moving toward terminating this individual.”
Sulzicki was arrested and charged with first-degree sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault, illegal sexual contact with a minor and risk of injury to a minor.
Sulzicki can appeal the termination within 10 days, but Robinson said she is “hopeful that as of, October 26, 2015 she will no longer be employed in our district.”
She is due back in court on November 3 and was released on $100,000 bond.
