A Toronto elementary school teacher has been charged with sexual assault after she engaged in what police are calling an "inappropriate relationship" with a former student.

Police say the relationship between the 40-year-old teacher and student began in June, 2009.

Authorities arrested the woman Monday evening after the "complainant disclosed information," an officer with 43 Division told ctvtoronto.ca.

The teacher is a faculty member at Joseph Howe Senior Public School, located in the Lawrence Avenue and Port Union Road area. The school's website says that someone with the same last name as the suspect teaches French and phys-ed for students in Grades 7 and 8.

Parents were understandably upset by the news.

"You trust your children to these institutions, and you would expect they're at least doing some kind of screening," said Chandra Spence.

Another parent said the accused teacher was her daughter's baseball coach.

Students were sent home with a letter of explanation. Principal David Milgram acknowledged there was an ongoing investigation into one of his school's teachers, but wouldn't say much more.

Police released few details about the arrest. The officer would not disclose the age or gender of the student. CTV Toronto reported the complainant is a 15-year-old boy.

Mary Gowans has been charged with sexual assault and sexual exploitation.

The suspect is not being held in custody and is expected to appear in court on March 1. The Toronto District School Board described her status as being on home assignment.

With a report from CTV Toronto's Jim Junkin