Rhode Island Teacher Alisha Crins Resigns Amid Investigation Into Alleged Relationship With 15-Year-Old Student

PONAGANSET, RHODE ISLAND — A Rhode Island high school gym teacher, Alisha Crins, 39, has resigned following allegations that she maintained an inappropriate relationship with a 15-year-old male student, prompting a state police investigation into the matter.

Allegations Surface at Ponaganset High School

Crins, who served as the program instructor for Ponaganset High School’s Health and Fitness/EMT CTE program, is accused of engaging in an alleged relationship with a student that began during his sophomore year and continued until after his graduation.

According to reports from The Valley Breeze, the allegations surfaced after the student’s girlfriend discovered text messages from Crins on the student’s phone, exposing a pattern of alleged communication that led to the teacher’s abrupt resignation.

Teacher’s Background and Community Reaction

Before joining Ponaganset High, Crins worked in North Smithfield, where she reportedly met her husband, Jeffrey Crins, who was named Teacher of the Year in 2022. The couple are both well-known in local academic circles.

The revelations have sparked outrage in the community. Town Council President Will Worthy said he was “shocked” to learn of the allegations and expressed disgust at the possibility that others within the school may have known about the situation but failed to act.

“If these allegations were known and nothing was done, that’s unacceptable,” Worthy stated.

Police and School District Response

Superintendent Renee Palazzo confirmed during a Tuesday night meeting that the Rhode Island State Police are now investigating the matter. Glocester Police Lt. Jeffrey Jenison also acknowledged that an official inquiry is underway into the alleged incident.

The Ponaganset School District has not publicly commented on whether Crins’ resignation was directly connected to the allegations but confirmed that she is no longer employed by the district.

Ongoing Investigation

As of this week, no formal charges have been filed against Crins, though authorities continue to collect evidence and interview witnesses. Investigators are also examining whether any school officials were aware—or should have been aware—of the alleged misconduct before it became public.