Amazon Teacher of the Year winner accused of preying on 14-year-old student
A former Massachusetts middle school teacher who received a national teaching award from Amazon is accused of raping a 14-year-old student and committing other offenses during the 2022-23 school year, prosecutors said.
The Essex County District Attorney’s Office said 38-year-old Tymond Tran, of Hudson, New Hampshire, pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Essex County Superior Court to charges of rape of a child aggravated by an age difference of 10 years or more, indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over, exhibiting a child in a nude or lascivious pose, and distributing obscene matter to a minor.
Prosecutors allege the offenses involved a then-14-year-old student while Tran taught eighth grade at Thurgood Marshall Middle School in Lynn during the 2022-23 school year.
Tran remains free under strict court-ordered conditions while the case proceeds.
Judge John C. Fraser ordered Tran to remain on house arrest with GPS monitoring except for emergency medical appointments, court appearances and attorney visits.
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Tran must also have no unsupervised contact with anyone under 18, submit to random searches of his electronic devices, reside at an Attleboro address, avoid all contact with victims and witnesses, and possess no child sexual abuse material.
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He is scheduled to return to court Aug. 26 for a pretrial conference.
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Attorney Megan Stanley, who represents Tran, did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
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In 2022, Tran was named one of 10 recipients of Amazon's Future Engineer Teacher of the Year Award. Amazon says the annual honor recognizes educators who promote diversity, equity and inclusion while encouraging students to pursue careers in computer science and robotics.
The company said recipients were selected for inspiring students through innovative computer science instruction and for expanding access to STEM education in their schools and communities.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Lynn School District and Amazon for comment on the matter.
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Lynn officials confirmed to Boston.com that Tran worked in the city's public school district from 2021 to 2024 and left voluntarily before achieving professional status.
"We are shocked and disturbed by this news," Lynn Mayor Jared C. Nicholson and Superintendent of Schools Molly Cohen said in a joint statement provided to the outlet. "Our primary concern is for the well-being of the former LPS student. Our hope for that student is healing and justice."
The officials said the district is cooperating with law enforcement, conducting an independent investigation and making support available to students, families and staff affected by the allegations.