Kenleigh Prendergast, 25, (seen in an undated photo) had only been at Spartanburg Day School in South Carolina for five months when she is said to have started the inappropriate relationship
A school counselor has been fired after admitting to having a sexual relationship with a student who she would text and FaceTime in the day and then meet in her private office after hours.
Kenleigh Prendergast, 25, had only been at Spartanburg Day School in South Carolina for five months when she is said to have started the inappropriate relationship with a pupil 'aged 16 or 17' in January this year.
The counselor said the attachment ended several days before she was reported to police on March 25.
She was interviewed on March 30 and confessed to communicating with the student via text, cellphone calls or FaceTime during and after school hours.
This led to the pair meeting outside of school in her house, which doubled up as a private counseling practice, she said.
Prendergast was taken to the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office Detention facility and charged with sexual battery with a student aged 16 or 17 with no aggravated force or coercion.
The school, which charges up to $19,000 a year in fees, said it fired Prendergast as soon as they were informed of the allegations by police.
Prendergast (pictured in a March 31 police mug shot, left, and an undated handout photo, right) said the attachment ended several days before she was reported to police on March 25
It said in a statement: 'Spartanburg Day School was contacted on March 31 by the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office and informed that an employee, Kenleigh Prendergast, was charged with sexual battery with a student.
'Ms. Prendergast was hired in August of 2017 as school counselor.
RELATED ARTICLES
Professor reveals that the Austin bombing victim, 17, had... 
Minneapolis cop who shot dead Australian yoga instructor in...
'Disregard for human life': U.S police officer Mohamed Noor,...
Share this article
Share'Effective immediately, Ms. Prendergast's employment with the school has been terminated.
'SDS puts the safety and wellbeing of our students above all things, and will cooperate fully with the Sheriff's Office throughout this process.'
Spartanburg Day School, pictured in an undated image, said it fired Prendergast immediately after hearing about the allegations against her
Prendergast's private office, where she would meet the student after the school day had ended
Prendergast's online profile describes her as a 'licensed family therapy intern' with 'several years of experience working in school environments'.
It lists her main passion as 'working with teens struggling with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem/confidence and difficult life transitions'.
'I also enjoy working with young adults (college-aged/early 20's) and adults with these issues, & more!' she adds.
Prendergast's online profile describes her as a 'licensed family therapy intern' with 'several years of experience working in school environments'. Pictured: Her office
The desk inside Prendergast's private office, where she counseled teenagers and young adults
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pa3IpbCmmZmhe6S7ja6iaKaVrMBwrdGtoJyklWKCdoKVa3BqZ4OkwrW0jHyYq6ecnruiedKcn6innGKwsMHNrJylp6Jif3Z5wJ2koqyjYrWiwsinnmarla3CoriMq5ylmaSevK%2B%2Fx6KnZqukqrGmutNnn62lnA%3D%3D