Officials at a Fitchburg charter school say they are “shocked and concerned” over allegations that a former health and sex education teacher had sex with a 14-year-old male student.

The announcement from the North Central Charter Essential School came a day after Rachelle Gendron, 27, of Fitchburg pleaded not guilty in Worcester Superior Court to charges of rape and enticement of a child.

Gendron was released on $2,000 bail.

“The North Central Charter Essential School’s highest priority is the safety and well-being of our students and we are both shocked and concerned by the allegations against the former employee in question,” said the school’s executive director, Stephanie Davolos.

“Upon first learning of those allegations, we took prompt and appropriate action consistent with the best interests of our students, which included swiftly terminating the individual and fully cooperating with law enforcement authorities investigating this matter,” Davolos said. “Until this matter is resolved, however, we cannot offer further comment.”

Prosecutors said Gendron was 25 and 26 years old when she had sex with the 14-year-old, who is no longer enrolled at the school.

Authorities say they found text messages between the two that included pictures of the teacher “in various states of undress.”

Gendron’s lawyer, Andrea Levy, maintains she is innocent.

Neighbor Susan Thor has lived near Gendron and her parents for the past three years in the tightly packed neighborhood of single-family homes, but said she had never met Gendron.

“Having something like that happen around here is shocking to me,” the young mother said.

Neighbor Mark Wheeler said the allegation “really is surprising.”

But he also questioned whether women accused in such crimes are treated the same as men.

“If this were a male they would never get out on $2,000 bond,” Wheeler said.

Herald wire services contributed to this report.