Anthony Criscuolo, a fifth-grade special education teacher at P.S. 386 in the Bronx, was arrested at 10 a.m. Wednesday morning.
He was charged with rape in the first degree, a charged that applies when the victim is 15 or younger.
He was arraigned early Thursday, and bail was set at $500,000 cash or $750,000 bond. He was also ordered to hand over all travel documents.
Police say the mother of the victim, a 10-year-old girl, discovered e-mails between the teacher and her daughter.
According to police the girl told detectives that he had kissed her and touched her.
Police say the alleged victim told her mother the teacher lured her into the car on Monday. The mother alerted authorities.
The girl also recounted how he told her she was going to receive an award Monday. He even wrote her a letter about the award on official school letterhead to her mother, police say.
Authorities say the suspect took the girl to another school, P.S. 196, and had sex with her in his car in the parking lot.
Criscuolo has been reassigned to a non-teaching position, and the department is seeking his termination.
He is due bcak in court on June 24.
