Norwich — One of two Norwich Free Academy staffers placed on paid leave as part of the school’s internal investigation into allegations that a former coach had engaged in sexual relations with a student has been reinstated to her position after she agreed to a three-day unpaid suspension.

Susan Hopkins-Terrell, head of the department of physical and health education, said Monday she was reinstated on Aug. 5 after she signed an agreement with NFA. She had been placed on paid administrative leave Jan. 24 in connection with the school’s internal investigation into how NFA responded to initial allegations that former coach Anthony Facchini had been involved in a sexual relation with a student in April 2017.

“I needed to be back,” Hopkins-Terrell said Monday, “for my 91-year-old mother. I just needed it to be over.”

Hopkins-Terrell, an NFA alum, said she received a warm welcome at NFA Monday when she rose to accept a 25-year veteran teacher honor during a staff reception. She actually has been a teacher at NFA for 27 years, but said she was classified as a “staffer” for the first two years. She hopes to remain at NFA for the rest of her career and retire there.

A long-time track and gymnastics coach, Hopkins-Terrell said she hasn’t been offered a coaching position yet and does hope to coach again at NFA.

NFA did not respond to requests for comment on Hopkins-Terrell’s reinstatement and did not respond to The Day’s Freedom of Information Act request for a copy of the written reinstatement agreement. The Day has sent regular requests for the past several months to NFA officials seeking documents related to the staff suspensions.

NFA Curriculum Director Denise Grant, who was placed on paid leave Jan. 23 in connection with the Facchini allegations, remains on paid leave.

Facchini was arrested last Sept. 12 and charged with two counts of second-degree sexual assault in connection with alleged relations with two then-NFA minor students.

According to police search warrant and arrest affidavits, Grant initially heard of the first possible relationship involving Facchini in April 2017 and asked Hopkins-Terrell if she had heard of a possible relationship. Hopkins-Terrell, then the NFA track coach, had worked with Facchini, who was a volunteer strength and conditioning coach at the time. Hopkins-Terrell told Grant that Facchini was friendly with all the female students and the allegation “wouldn’t surprise her,” the affidavit said.

Grant reported the allegation to then-Campus Safety Director Kevin Rodino, who met with Head of School David Klein, Director of Student Affairs John Iovino and then-Athletic Director Eric Swallow. But the allegation was dismissed without being reported to the state Department of Children and Families, as required by state law for all school staff who are mandatory reporters of suspected child abuse.

Police learned of the second alleged relationship more than a year later, in June 2018, and launched the investigation that led to Facchini’s arrest. Rodino also was arrested Feb. 25, 2019, and charged with failure to report suspected child abuse, tampering with evidence, issuing a false statement and interfering with a police officer.

In January, the NFA Board of Trustees hired an outside attorney to investigate the school’s response to the April 2017 initial allegation. The report cleared Klein of any wrongdoing and authorized him to handle any internal response to the police information.

Klein placed Rodino, Grant and Hopkins-Terrell on paid leave without revealing details of the suspensions. Rodino retired from NFA on July 1.

Hopkins-Terrell said Monday her suspension stemmed from comments Grant made to police that both Grant and Hopkins-Terrell felt their initial concerns expressed to Rodino and Swallow were being “brushed aside.” She said union officials also cited the comment in advising her that she could not go to arbitration to challenge the suspension.

The police affidavits revealed that in the meeting with Rodino, Klein, Iovino and Swallow, the group decided to question Facchini and the student. The investigation was dropped after both Facchini and the student denied the relationship. In the affidavits, Facchini told police he learned that Swallow was going to question him and asked the student to delete any texts or email exchanges with him prior to the interview.

Hopkins-Terrell said Monday she never had any specific information about allegations that Facchini was having a relationship with a student to report to the state, but because she agreed with Grant that she felt the issue was brushed aside and didn't report it, she was placed on leave.

Hopkins-Terrell said she didn't agree with the discipline but said: "I'm hoping for a good year. I'm moving on, with my family, my husband, my mom, all my family."

c.bessette@theday.com