A D.C. middle school teacher kissed one of his students and met with her outside of school several times, according to court documents.
Georgetown Day School placed Mark Allen-Gifford on leave and banned him from campus and contact with students after learning of the Metropolitan Police Department’s sexual misconduct investigation, Head of School Russell Shaw said in an email to the school community.
A 14-year-old girl told police she and Allen-Gifford, 31, talked online about sex and about Allen-Gifford having sex with her, court documents said. They met of campus multiple times, and on one occasion they “made out” with Allen-Gifford kissing her while squeezing her thigh, she said.
Allen-Gifford told police he did kiss the girl but said he didn’t remember touching her thigh, court documents said.
Police arrested Allen-Gifford late Friday for second-degree child sexual abuse, enticing a minor and misdemeanor child sexual abuse.
“This is deeply unsettling news for our school community,” Shaw’s email said. “We will do all we can to be of support to our students and families, especially anyone who has been personally impacted by this matter.”
Allen-Gifford taught history at the middle school and coached baseball and basketball at the high school. The school said it would hold meetings with middle school students Monday and speak with members of the baseball and basketball teams.
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Georgetown Day will review its procedures for preventing sexual abuse, including background checks and faculty and staff training.
