Chicopee has asked the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to revoke Cushing's teaching license.
Donald Cushing at his court arraignment May 28CHICOPEE – Donald Cushing, a Chicopee High School teacher charged with statutory rape, has resigned from his job.
Cushing recently sent a letter of resignation from jail to Superintendent Richard W. Rege Jr.
Cushing, 59, was immediately asked to leave the school and placed on unpaid administrative leave in late May after a family member of a 15-year-old student complained to the principal that she found text messages of a sexual nature from Cushing on the teenager’s cell phone.
After a police investigation, Cushing was arrested three days later and arraigned on four counts of statutory rape and two counts of disseminating obscene matter to a minor. He pleaded innocent in Chicopee District Court and is being held on $150,000 cash bail.
His next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 25.
According to court documents, the student told police that she had sexual intercourse with Cushing three or four times in his classroom closet. In a videotaped interview with police, Cushing admitted sending sexual images from his cell phone to her.
His resignation relieves the city of having to go through a longer and more complicated process of firing Cushing, who was a teacher in Chicopee for about 10 years, Rege said.
“It (the resignation) created a legal vacancy that we can fill,” Rege said, adding he is now advertising for teachers for the position.
Cushing taught math to students with learning disabilities. The 15-year-old was not in one of his classes.
“We also don’t have to worry about him returning,” Rege said. The city could face that issue if Cushing was found not guilty.
The city is also asking the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Department of Education to revoke Cushing’s teaching certification, said Mayor Michael D. Bissonnette, who serves as School Committee chairman.
Officials have sent his resignation letter as well as information about the case, including the videotape on which he admitted to sending sexual images to the girl, to the state, he said.