A teacher in the Hempstead School District has been pulled from the classroom following claims from several students that the teacher had inappropriate contact with them.

"I feel like as a community we're all affected," says Asia Thomas, who has three daughters attending schools in the district. "We're all shaken up...It's nasty...These are babies."

Acting Superintendent Regina Armstrong alerted parents about the allegations in a letter dated Jan. 9. Armstrong wrote that on Jan. 4, several students told their building principal that their teacher had inappropriate contact with them.

Armstrong says the building principal acted swiftly, getting the school psychologist and personnel department involved. Armstrong says the accused teacher was placed on paid administrative leave.

The district is not identifying the teacher or the school where the alleged inappropriate contact took place.

Armstrong told parents in the letter that on Jan. 8, Hempstead village police got involved and is conducting their own investigation.

At a school board meeting Thursday night, some parents said the district should have notified police right away -- not four days after children made the allegations.

The district says it will protect the children who came forward.

The Nassau County District Attorney's Office is also involved in the investigation.