HOLYOKE — A kindergarten teacher who had begun working for Holyoke Public Schools in August has resigned and been arrested amid a federal investigation into his alleged possession of child pornography.
In a letter sent Thursday to families of Morgan Elementary School, Superintendent Stephen Zrike said teacher Gregory Lisby, 40, resigned after the district learned that the FBI was investigating him for alleged possession of child pornography.
On Thursday night, federal officials arrested Lisby in Northboro on a charge of possession of child pornography. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison. Lisby was expected to appear in federal court in Boston at 2:15 p.m. Friday.
“We know that this is troubling news, and we understand that this will prompt many questions from the community,” Zrike’s letter reads. “As this is an ongoing investigation, we do not have any additional information to share at this time.”
Zrike forwarded the Gazette’s request for comment to Judy Taylor, the district’s director of communications, who said Lisby was taken into custody Friday.
In an affidavit for a search warrant that was unsealed in federal court Thursday in Worcester, FBI agent Adam Strode said that in December 2018, Microsoft alerted the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to a digital file uploaded to its file hosting service. That file contained child pornography, the affidavit reads.
On Aug. 27, Microsoft provided the contents of that account in response to a federal search warrant. Among the contents were about 180 images and 15 videos of children that appeared to be ages 8 to 15 engaged in sex acts, according to Strode.
The account subscriber data that Microsoft provided listed the owner of the account as “Greg Lisby,” the affidavit states. Strode also said that among the account’s data were several Word documents, including what appear to be Lisby’s resume and an introduction letter from Lisby for an online education course.
“If I could teach any grade, I would love to be a kindergarten teacher,” Lisby’s letter reportedly read. “The joy, spontaneity, and openness to learning of younger children is what attracts me to early childhood education. Plus, the energy of the kids, and the energy required of the teacher is exhilarating and tiring.”
The IP address of the account was traced to the Rev. Timothy Burger — the rector at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Worcester, according to the church’s website. Strode notes that Burger and Lisby are married, and that both previously listed their addresses as 919 Pleasant St. in Worcester.
“Upon information and belief, Gregory Lisby is also an ordained minister and served as the rector of a different Episcopal church in Worcester from 2015-2018, although it does not appear that he is formally serving in that capacity presently,” Strode’s affidavit reads.
In his letter to Morgan School families, Zrike, the Holyoke superintendent, said all district employees undergo fingerprinting and a background check. Lisby passed those checks when he was hired, he wrote.
Zrike said a classroom paraprofessional will teach Lisby’s class until a permanent teacher is named.
“We will be working closely to support our students, families and staff in the coming days,” he said. “District officials and Morgan staff will be in regular communication with students and families who may have worked with Mr. Lisby.”
Zrike directed anyone with questions about the investigation or information to share to call the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Project Safe Childhood hotline at 617-748-3274.
Dusty Christensen can be reached at dchristensen@gazettenet.com.