New Britain Police: Former West Hartford Student Teacher Had Sexual Relationship With Student

A former student teacher and track coach at Conard High School in West Hartford is accused of having a sexual relationship with an 18-year-old student, police said.

Tayler Ivy Boncal, 22, of Beacon Falls, was charged Thursday with three counts of second-degree sexual assault, police said.

She is accused of engaging in intercourse and oral sex with the student under a statute that prohibits sexual contact between teachers and students in their schools.

A concerned parent notified school officials about an inappropriate relationship between a former student teacher and a Conard student, West Hartford schools Superintendent Tom Moore said Friday. Boncal completed her student teaching in the fall but was still working for the district as an assistant track coach at the high school. Moore said her employment with the district has been terminated.

When West Hartford officials were notified about the alleged relationship, they alerted West Hartford police who contacted New Britain police to handle the investigation, Moore said.

Boncal was living in New Britain at the time of the relationship, and all of the encounters took place there, police said.

The 18-year-old male student and Boncal both told police that the relationship began when he asked for her phone number in December, according to a five-page arrest warrant affidavit for Boncal. She told police that she taught social sciences and that the 18-year-old was in some of the classes.

On Dec. 4, Boncal was hired as a track and field coach. School officials said the 18-year-old is not a member of the track team.

The two began exchanging texts Dec. 13 and had sex at Boncal’s residence on different occasions, starting on Christmas and with the last encounter on Jan. 11, they both acknowledged, according to the affidavit.

“She stated that the victim was kind to her,” police said in the affidavit. “Boncal stated that she loved the victim and was emotional regarding her feelings for him.”

The student initially denied the relationship to investigators, but eventually told them of the encounters, the affidavit says. told police that he and Boncal exchanged sexually explicit photos and messages, but that he had recently lost his cellphone. Boncal told police that most of the communication was done on Facebook Messenger.

“The victim refused to provide a written statement,” police wrote. “The victim expressed concern for Boncal with regard to the outcome of this investigation.”

On Friday, Conard High School Principal Julio Duarte sent a letter to parents alerting them to the arrest.

“As educators, we are entrusted to protect and educate all of our students and know there are certain boundaries that can never be crossed,” Duarte wrote. “Also, we will not tolerate any behavior that compromises the safety or well-being of our students. I hope you will not let the misconduct of this one individual cast a shadow over all of our staff members who demonstrate their commitment to our students every day.”

Moore said on Friday that he was “furious” about the violation of faith entrusted to school employees.

“Whether someone is 21, 41, or 61, the moment they are a part of a school as a student teacher, mentor, or coach, they enter into a sacred trust with our students and community,” Moore said.

Boncal was arraigned Thursday in New Britain Superior Court. Court records said she was released from custody. Her next court date is March 1.

Boncal graduated from Central Connecticut State University in New Britain in December 2017, university spokesman Mark McLaughlin said Friday afternoon.

On the CCSU athletics website, Boncal was listed as a sprinter on the women’s track and field team.