A 38-year-old gym teacher is accused of rape after allegedly having sex with a 16-year-old boy in the closet of her Queens high school, authorities say.
The teacher, Joy Morsi, was charged with third-degree rape and a third-degree criminal sexual act in connection with the alleged abuse, police say.
According to the criminal complaint, Morsi had sexual contact with the boy as many as 30 times over a six-week period last summer.
Police say Morsi was arrested after the boy told a friend, and that friend told a parent, who alerted school officials. Authorities say the 16-year-old student also has a sexually explicit video that is being investigated.
The city Department of Education said Morsi has taught physical education at the school since 1999 and administrators pulled Morsi from the classroom immediately after learning of the allegations.
“We find these claims disturbing and reprehensible and she will remain reassigned – far from any student and the school – pending a criminal investigation,” the DOE said in a statement.
The agency also said she has had no prior infractions.
Morsi had no comment as she left court Tuesday.
--Brynn Gingras contributed to this report
