By Derrick Nunnally and Kathleen Brady Shea
Inquirer Staff Writers
A 28-year-old teacher's aide at North Penn High School in Lansdale has been charged with having an inappropriate relationship with a 16-year-old boy in her class.
Michelle E. Zulkowsky of North Wales was accused of a relationship that spanned four months and included touching the boy inappropriately in their North Penn classroom, according to charges filed by the Montgomery County District Attorney's office.
"It was a very deep, emotional, intimate relationship, which included some inappropriate touching," said District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman. "This is a very serious matter; she abused the trust of the student, the school and the whole community."
Since Zulkowsky's area of instruction was English as a second language, the victim was more vulnerable because of his limited communication skills, Ferman said.
Ferman said it was Zulkowsky herself who brought the case to the attention of authorities. Zulkowsky did not return a telephone call seeking comment.
"She took steps to stop the conduct before it got worse," said Ferman. "It's certainly something any court is going to consider."
Christine Liberaski, spokeswoman for the North Penn School District, said Zulkowsky, who was hired in January 2007, is no longer employed at the school.
A prepared statement from the district said Zulkowsky "resigned on April 18 after being interviewed by police the preceding day at North Penn High School.
"Student safety is a top priority of the North Penn School District," the statement said. "The employee would have been immediately suspended in anticipation of termination had a resignation not been submitted."
Ferman said when police interviewed Zulkowsky at the school on April 17, she had a pocketknife in her purse and was charged with possession of a weapon on school property. Ferman said that charge is expected to be combined with the second set of charges - corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of children - for which Zulkowsky was arraigned and released on a $25,000 bond.
She was also ordered to have no contact with the student while out on bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday at Lansdale district court.
Ferman said guidelines for the charges that Zulkowsky faces range from probation to prison time. "Anything is possible in this case," she said
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