A teacher at Pace Academy has been arrested and charged with possessing child pornography, according to a letter the school sent home to parents Monday.

The teacher was arrested and charged with possession of child pornographic images which were purchased from a home computer, according to the letter sent from the prominent Atlanta private school.

“These images came to light as a result of a multi-year federal investigation, which we learned about today,” Pace headmaster Fred Assaf said in the letter. He told the AJC in an email that the teacher was fired Monday morning after the school was notified of the charges.

The teacher is no longer employed by Pace Academy, the letter said.

“We are cooperating with federal agents as they continue their investigation. I want to stress to you that, according to federal investigators, [the teacher] has not involved any current or former Pace students in this situation, and there is no evidence of inappropriate physical contact between [the teacher] and Pace students or other children,” Assaf said in the letter.

He said the faculty was made aware of the arrest after school on Monday. He said school officials plan to meet with students in the middle and upper schools Tuesday morning.

“The emotional wellbeing of our students is our primary concern at this time. This news is incredibly shocking and upsetting to all of us in the Pace community, and we know that healing will take time,” Assaf wrote.

About the Author