A student teacher at Eagle Rock School and Professional Development Center in Estes Park has been arrested on allegations of sexual assault on a child while in a position of trust, according to the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office.
The arrest of Erin Byrd, 22, stemmed from her alleged behavior with a 17-year-old student while Byrd was employed as a student teacher at the alternative high school in Estes Park school, according to a sheriff’s office news release.
Byrd was arrested Sunday, posted $10,000 bond on Monday and was then released, the sheriff’s office said Tuesday morning.
Byrd has been teaching at the school since September. The private school, established in 1993, is in a rural area northeast of the town of Estes Park.
“The safety and welfare of our students is our top priority,” read a statement from head of the school Jeff Liddle. “Eagle Rock School maintains a strict standard of conduct for students, faculty and staff. In light of this matter, these standards have been reinforced to the entire Eagle Rock community.”
The school began an internal review after the allegations were reported, Liddle said. A “third-party firm with expertise in private school education” will conduct a review of the internal report, he said.
Liddle described the school as a year-round private residential high school for 15-to-19-year-old students “who have not experienced success in traditional academic programs.”
The sheriff’s office is asking anyone who has been victimized or has additional information to contact investigator Rita Servin at 970-498-5167.