02:34 PM CDT on Tuesday, May 16, 2006

From 11 News Staff reports

A high school teacher has resigned after he was charged with inappropriate relations with a student.

HCSO

Sean William Eckman

Sean William Eckman, 29, taught at South Houston High School for two years.

According to the Pasadena School District, a couple of weeks ago he asked an assistant principal at the school if he could take a female student to the prom and told them that he was a good family friend.

The school deemed it inappropriate for a teacher take a student to the prom, and police and the school district looked into the matter to see if there was more than a family friendship.

During the course of the investigation, he admitted he had sexual relations with her after she turned 17, school officials said. They had been dating for about a year.

Eckman had been placed on administrative leave last week and turned in his resignation Friday.

He had been with the district for four years. Prior to that he worked at South Houston Intermediate School.

Because the student is 17 years old, it was not considered sexual assault.