Holly MatkinBryant, AR – A now-former Arkansas high school teacher has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a student.
The Bryant Police Department (BPD) announced the arrest of 32-year-old Heather Hare in a press release on April 14.
BPD investigators began looking into Hare after they received information that the Bryant High School teacher was “involved in sexual misconduct with a student,” according to the police department.
Police did not reveal any details about the investigation, but confirmed they were able to obtain an arrest warrant for Hare “with the information obtained.”
Hare turned herself in at the Saline County Detention Center on April 14 on a first-degree sexual assault charge.
She was released later that afternoon after posting a $15,000 bond, according to the Arkansas Times.
NEWS RELEASE
The Bryant Police Department charged Bryant High School teacher Heather Hare with Sexual Assault 1st Deg after recent allegations of sexual misconduct with a student. Hare turned herself in this morning at the SCSO. pic.twitter.com/OiQ0jnWadf
— BryantPD (@BryantPolice) April 14, 2023
Hare resigned her position retroactively to April 1 during a Bryant School Board meeting on April 3, The Saline Courier reported.
The Bryant Public Schools (BPS) released a statement on April 5 regarding alleged “teacher misconduct.”
BPS said district administrators learned of the allegations against the teacher on March 30 and said that they take “all reports of employee misconduct very seriously,” The Saline Courier reported.
“Bryant Public Schools has been made aware of an allegation of inappropriate conduct by a Bryant High School teacher,” the school district said, according to The Saline Courier. “The teacher is no longer employed by the Bryant School District.”
Hare taught family and consumer science at Bryant High School, KATV reported in April of 2020.
The school district had moved to online courses for electives at the time due to the pandemic, and Hare told the news outlet she was struggling with being cut off from her students.
“I don’t want to cry, but my heart broke because I’m not going to see those kids again, especially seniors,” she told KATV during a Zoom interview. “It’s just hard to imagine that I’m not going to give them that final piece of advice, or a hug.”
