A former high school teacher Alisha Crins in Rhode Island is facing serious criminal charges following allegations involving a student, according to court and school records.
The former physical education and health teacher at Ponaganset High School in Glocester, resigned from her position last year after being accused of inappropriate conduct involving a student. She is now 40 years old.
Authorities allege that the misconduct began when the student was a sophomore. Investigators say the relationship continued for a period of time while she was employed at the school. The case has raised significant concern within the local community and school district.
Crins was later formally charged with two counts of third-degree sexual assault. She has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Text messages and police interviews with various witnesses in an arrest report obtained by WPRI paint a detailed picture of the disturbing alleged relationship between the former teacher and her student.
The report revealed that Crins‘s former student filed a sexual harassment complaint the same day she resigned in October of last year. He was 17 at the time of filing and had graduated in spring 2024.
Suspicious interactions detailed in the report include a ‘cookie incident,’ when the victim tried to send Crins a Valentine’s Day cookie, according to teachers questioned by police.
Teachers also told police that the victim gave his former teacher a bouquet of flowers at the winter ball in January 2024. The unusual behavior was reported to the principal and vice principals, but Crins was never formally reprimanded.
The report included a conversation the former teacher had with friends over text in a group chat, in which Crins admitted to ‘sexting’ the teenager and said, ‘I just can’t believe I f***ed up this bad.’
The allegations have deeply affected the small Rhode Island town where the school is located. Parents, students, and staff have expressed shock and concern as more details have become public through legal filings and reporting.
The principal once again informally addressed the complaint with Crins and told her: ‘When you are on duty, you know, if a student comes over and says “hello” you have to send them back to class in a timely fashion,’ the report stated.
Crins was arraigned in February and released on a $10,000 personal recognizance that included conditions such as surrendering her passport. Her case is ongoing.
The Foster-Glocester Regional School Committee released a statement on Thursday that said: ‘As consistently stated over the past seven months, the district has been cooperating with the attorney general and state police, and is now prepared to move forward with an investigation.’
For the community, the situation has served as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding student welfare and ensuring accountability within educational institutions.
