Stamford teacher charged with sexual assault is ‘no longer working’ for district
Andrew Park, of Norwalk, was placed on administrative leave in February
STAMFORD — A Stamford fifth grade teacher who was charged with sexually assaulting 12 students at Strawberry Hill School is “no longer working for Stamford Public Schools,” district officials said Friday.
Frank Rodriguez, principal at Strawberry Hill, sent an email to families on Friday about the employment status of fifth grade teacher Andrew Park.
“I mentioned to you that if there is additional information I am able to share with you, I would do so promptly,” Rodriguez wrote. “We will continue to work everyday to support our students and help our community heal.”
Kathleen Steinberg, spokesperson for the district, confirmed Park no longer works there. Steinberg said he resigned, but could not immediately provide more context Friday about the resignation.
Park, 33, a Norwalk resident, was arrested on April 5 and charged with 12 counts of fourth-degree sexual assault, among other charges.
The incidents involved 12 girls, ages 11 to 13, who told authorities that Park would hug them, often putting his hand on their “buttocks,” and would offer candy in exchange for hugs, according to the warrant for his arrest. A female student told a seventh grade teacher in February that she was late for class because she was trying to avoid Park in the hallway, the
warrant said.
Officials from the state Department of Children and Families initially declined three times to investigate his behavior until the mother of a victim called twice, the warrant said. When DCF began investigating, the agency discovered that several young girls had the same experience with Park, a fifth grade teacher and former girls basketball coach, the warrant said. The girls all said Park made them feel uncomfortable with hugs and kisses in some cases, the warrant stated.
According to the warrant, DCF was notified on Feb. 9 that the girl, referred in the warrant as Victim 1, was late to class because she tried to avoid Park, who made her uncomfortable. The agency declined to take the case a second time after the administration reported on Feb. 12 that the mother of the same victim told them Park had refused to give her daughter candy because she would not hug him, the warrant said.
Park was placed on leave on Feb. 12 even though DCF twice declined to investigate, according to the warrant.
He has been with the school since 2019 and had no prior criminal record, according to the warrant.