LYNN — A former Lynn Public Schools teacher who was nationally recognized during his time in the classroom pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Essex County Superior Court to multiple charges alleging he sexually abused a 14-year-old student during the 2022-23 school year while teaching at Thurgood Marshall Middle School.
Tymond Tran, 38, of Hudson, New Hampshire, was arraigned before Judge John C. Fraser on charges of rape of a child aggravated by an age difference of 10 years or more, indecent assault and battery on a person age 14 or older, exhibiting a child in a nude or lascivious pose, and distributing obscene matter to a minor.
According to the Essex County District Attorney’s Office, the alleged offenses involved a then-14-year-old student while Tran was working as an eighth-grade teacher at the Lynn middle school. Tran pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Assistant District Attorney Kate MacDougall represented the Commonwealth. Tran was represented by attorney Megan Stanley. A pretrial conference is scheduled for Aug. 26.
Judge Fraser ordered Tran released under strict conditions pending trial. He must wear a GPS monitor and remain on house arrest except for emergency medical care, court appearances and attorney visits. He also is prohibited from having unsupervised contact with anyone younger than 18, must submit to random electronic device searches, reside at an Attleboro address, have no contact with any alleged victim or witnesses, and may not possess child sexual abuse material.
Mayor Jared C. Nicholson and Lynn Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Molly Cohen issued a joint statement following the arraignment.
“We are shocked and disturbed by this news,” Nicholson and Cohen said. “Our primary concern is for the well-being of the former LPS student. Our hope for that student is healing and justice. We also recognize that this news will be deeply upsetting for students, families, staff, and the broader school community, and we will be making support available as needed. We will continue to fully cooperate with law enforcement and are also conducting our own independent investigation.”
According to Lynn Public Schools, Tran worked in the district from 2021 to 2024 and left voluntarily before attaining professional status.
Tran received national recognition during his tenure in Lynn. In 2022, he was named one of 10 recipients nationwide of Amazon’s Future Engineer Teacher of the Year Award, an honor recognizing educators who expand access to computer science education in underserved communities.
As part of the award, Tran received a $5,000 cash prize, while Thurgood Marshall Middle School was awarded $25,000 to upgrade aging computer equipment. At the time, he was credited with launching the school’s first computer science program and developing lessons designed to meet students with varying interests, skill levels and learning needs.
The Essex County District Attorney’s Office emphasized that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
