A substitute teacher in the Canandaigua City School District was arrested this week after police say he sent inappropriate messages and photographs to two students using social media.
27-year-old Michael Thompson of Canandaigua was charged Wednesday with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, according to the Canandaigua Police Department.
Police allege Thompson engaged two juvenile students via Snapchat between November and December and sent them inappropriate messages and images. Thompson was working as a substitute teacher in the district at the time.
Thompson was processed and taken to the Ontario County Jail for arraignment at CAP Court. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are pending, police said.
The Canandaigua City School District said it was notified by police about the investigation and immediately removed Thompson from its substitute list.
“The families of those two students have been notified by authorities and are fully cooperating,” the district said in a statement.
During the 2024-25 school year, Thompson worked a limited number of days as a substitute between the middle school and the Academy, the district said. He also volunteered as a coach during the indoor track and field season and the modified boys lacrosse season, attending no more than two practices for each.
The district said Thompson worked two days as a substitute during the 2025-26 school year, both at the Academy.
“All employees working in public education, in any capacity, in the state of New York must achieve fingerprint clearance before beginning work,” the district said, adding that prospective substitutes are interviewed and complete a day of training.
“We take the safety of our staff and students very seriously, and these behaviors will never be acceptable,” the statement said.
Police Chief Mathew Nielsen said anyone with information or parents who believe Thompson communicated with their child on social media are asked to contact Detective Tyler Liberty at 585-337-2107 or by email at [email protected].
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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