Former teacher at private school in RI being investigated for sexual abuse of students
By Ana Bottary
@anabottary
East Greenwich- A small private school in East Greenwich, the latest to report alleged sex abuse on campus.
"It’s hard to believe. It really is quite hard to believe. Many of us don’t want to believe it but things happen," says alum Tyler Gates.
According to a letter sent out by Rocky Hill’s Head of School James Tracy, three former students are saying they were sexually abused by a former faculty member in the 1970’s.
They were between 16 and 18 at the time. The school filed a report with Warwick police last week, and sent a letter to the school community on Monday.
Former student, Tyler Gates says the school’s transparency on this difficult topic is not surprising.
"Instantly you can tell that he understands our community style, how we are so open and accepting of everybody, everything that comes through here,” he says.
Tracy sent out a statement saying in part, "We applaud the three alumnae who had the courage to come forward, and have again urged any other alumnae or current students who wish to report allegations of sexual misconduct to do so."
SNAP Rhode Island supports how the school is now handling this.
"Even when it is decades old, people are afraid to come forward because they may be ridiculed, they may not be believed. So I am applauding rocky hill for speaking out and inviting people to come forward,” says SNAP Rhode Islands, Ann Hagan Webb.
©WLNE-TV / ABC6 2016
