Massachusetts teacher, Amazon award, arraigned on assault

A former Massachusetts middle school teacher, who was once honored as a national "Teacher of the Year" by Amazon, has been arraigned on multiple felony charges for allegedly sexually assaulting a 14-year-old student. Tymond Tran, 38, pleaded not guilty in Essex County Superior Court on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, to charges including aggravated assault of a child, indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over, exhibiting a child in a nude or lascivious pose, and distributing obscene matter to a minor.

The alleged crimes occurred during the 2022-2023 school year while Tran was an eighth-grade teacher at Thurgood Marshall Middle School in Lynn. He worked for Lynn Public Schools from 2021 until 2024, leaving the district on his own accord. In a joint statement, Lynn Mayor Jared Nicholson and Superintendent Molly Cohen said they were "shocked and disturbed" by the news, emphasizing that their primary concern is for the wellbeing of the former student. They stated the district is conducting an independent investigation and will make support available to the school community.

Prosecutors said a grand jury indicted Tran on July 15, 2026, and formal charges were filed in June 2026....