PUNXSUTAWNEY - State police in Punxsutawney have charged a former teacher at Soaring Heights School in DuBois with institutional sexual assault.

According to police, an investigation discovered that Megan Bartley, 29, of Anita, was having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a 17-year-old boy at a house in McCalmont Township.

Police said the relationship was going on prior to Bartley being fired by the school.

The relationship had been going on for several months, and the encounters happened at the home in Jefferson County, according to police.

The investigation was initiated after employees from Soaring Heights reported it to the state's ChildLine and Abuse registry.

According to a Soaring Heights spokeswoman , the school was made aware of the allegations August 22. They suspended Bartley the following day before ultimately firing her.

Allegations of inappropriate conduct that diminishes and/or threatens the security and well-being of our students are taken very seriously and will not be tolerated. We are both shocked and disturbed by this occurrence and are here to support all of our Soaring Heights School students and families at this time,” stated Jonathan Wolf, CEO of Pyramid Healthcare. Soaring Heights is a member of Pyramid Healthcare.

A second woman, Bridget Kruzelak, 41, also was charged after police said she was aware of the relationship and let it continue.

Bartley was charged with 15 counts of institutional sexual assault, 20 counts of corruption of minors and 20 counts of unlawful contact with a minor.

Her bail was set at $500,000 and a hearing is scheduled for Oct. 27.

Kruzelak was charged with one count of endangering the welfare of a child. A hearing date has not yet been scheduled.

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