A former Newton teacher, now working as an educator in Needham, is charged with possession of child pornography.

Needham Superintendent Daniel Gutekanst sent a letter to Needham parents on Friday alerting them that their high school band director, Spencer Parrish, had been charged with possessing child pornography and was placed on administrative leave and prohibited from school grounds.

Parrish has worked for Needham public schools since 2021. He’s the second Needham teacher charged with child pornography in the past month, according to WCVB.

“The safety and wellbeing of our students is the district’s top priority, and we will cooperate with all law enforcement agencies as the investigation continues,” Gutekanst wrote in his letter, adding that authorities have not told him if any Needham students have been harmed.

On Saturday, Newton Superintendent Anna Nolin sent a letter to Newton parents letting them know that Parrish had worked as a teacher at Horace Mann Elementary School for the 2020-2021 school year.

“Upon hearing this news, I have been actively collaborating with the Needham police and interviewed our staff,” Nolin wrote.

Much of Parrish’s teaching was done remotely during his time in Newton, Nolin noted, given the COVID-19 pandemic. His last three months of work in Newton involved in-person instruction.

“The Needham police indicate that the manner of his crime and the search of material regarding his activity indicate that the individual received and shared pornographic materials, but did not create or share anything involving students in classes, lessons, or any video or pictures of kids in classes or interacting with him,” Nolin assured. “We also searched all of our accounts used by him and found nothing except items related to his work as a music educator.”

Parrish had passed criminal background checks when he was hired in Newton, Nolin said, and nothing suspicious has been found on the accounts he used while at Horace Mann.

“I know this information may be distressing to hear,” Nolin continued. “As an educator, and mother, I know it is hard to put your children into the care of others and we do not take that responsibility lightly. When trust is broken, it can be difficult to move forward.”