WESTBROOK – A Westbrook High School social studies teacher has been charged with assault and criminal threatening as the result of an incident at the school last Thursday.

According to Westbrook Police Capt. Tom Roth, Christopher Conroy, 41, was summonsed after the police were called to respond to a confrontation between Conroy and a student. Director of Public Safety Mike Pardue said the charge alleges that Conroy grabbed the juvenile’s arm and made a threatening comment.

Superintendent Marc Gousse said he had no comment on the ongoing investigation, other than Conroy was still employed with the district but was on administrative leave pending the results of the ongoing investigation.

The incident took place around 11:30 a.m., according to Roth, and police were notified of the incident around 1:30 that day.

Students at Westbrook High School are rallying in support of Conroy, building a Facebook page called “Team Conroy” that boasted more than 260 members as of Wednesday afternoon.

The page is filled with supportive messages like “favorite teacher ever,” pictures of the yellow “don’t tread on me” flag – a favorite teaching point of Conroy’s – and an event called “letter to Conroy,” encouraging fellow supporters to write a paragraph to Conroy that will be compiled into one long letter and delivered to the teacher.

“We all know that Conroy will need some support through this,” said the description on the event.

Liz Torrey, a student representative on the City Council and a graduating senior, wrote a letter to the American Journal on behalf of many of her fellow students.

“Mr. Conroy is widely acclaimed as one of the best teachers in the school system, and there is no end to his generosity and commitment to his students. He is a man who stands up for what he believes in and constantly pursues the truth, and his solid character has endeared him to the students and teachers that know him,” Torrey wrote.

Pardue said Conroy’s initial court appearance will be on July 2.