An English teacher at the McDonogh Upper School has been let go due to what the school’s headmaster described as “sexual relations with a minor more than a decade ago” – less than a week after the teacher’s wife was arrested on sexual charges involving a teenage boy.
In a letter sent out to McDonogh School families on Tuesday, headmaster Charles Britton said he learned over the weekend that Michael Reddy, an English instructor at the Upper School, allegedly engaged in sexual relations with a non-student who was under 18 years old more than 10 years ago. Reddy “is no longer employed by McDonogh” and is barred from campus, Britton said.
The headmaster said he had reported Reddy to unspecified authorities. School spokeswoman Nina Sinnott said in an email Friday that the report was filed with Baltimore County police.
Britton said school administrators do not believe Reddy engaged in any sexual misconduct at the school, where he previously worked from 2008 to 2013 and was re-hired again this year.
“However, as always, if you have information regarding improprieties by Mr. Reddy, or anyone else, that jeopardize the physical and emotional welfare of members of our community, I encourage you to contact me or School Counselor Marie Allee, Ph.D,” he said.
In an unusual twist, Reddy’s wife, Alyssia Reddy, who worked briefly as a substitute teacher at McDonogh in 2011 and was recently employed at the St. Paul’s School for Girls in Lutherville, was arrested on sexual assault and other charges last week for allegedly having sex with a 16-year-old boy.
Police in Bucks County, Pa., say they received a report that Alyssia, 28, and the boy had engaged in intercourse at a public park in Solebury Township this past spring. She was working for the Pennington School, a co-ed boarding school in New Jersey, at the time, police said.
Alyssia left Pennington and was working for the St. Paul’s School for Girls this year. Solebury Township and Baltimore County police arrested her on Dec. 1, and detained her in Baltimore City. She was awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania.
Solebury Township Det. Jonathan Koretzky said in an email Thursday afternoon that Alyssia is “still in custody in Baltimore at this time,” and the department hasn’t received notice of a scheduled extradition hearing.
She had served as a sub at McDonogh for six days in all between December 2010 and June 2011, according to Britton.
“As is the case with Mr. Reddy, we have no reason to suspect that Ms. Reddy committed acts of sexual misconduct at McDonogh, but, again, if you have information regarding any wrongdoings, please contact Dr. Allee or me,” the headmaster said.
He defended the school’s hiring process, noting that administrators “carefully vet” all employees with fingerprinting and background checks, and require them to complete training with the Baltimore Child Abuse Center.
Teachers also must complete professional development programs centered on student safety, child abuse and mandated reporting, and students receive “age-appropriate education and guidance” for health and safety throughout their schooling, he said.
“I want to stress that the safety and well-being of our students is of utmost importance to all of us at McDonogh, and we remain committed to providing a safe learning environment,” Britton said.
This report has been updated to clarify that the school reported Michael Reddy to Baltimore County police.
I know this couple very well and took care of their first baby. This makes no sense. Alicia was a super organized mom. Very picky about how her son was taken care of. Very. Never a sign of abuse. Never. I was in their home every week.