— A teacher at Southern Middle School in Southern Pines lost his job Wednesday and faces sex charges for an alleged improper relationship with a student at another Moore County school.

Gregory Kurt Smith, 50, of 429 Flynn McPherson Road in Cameron, taught social studies at the school. Neighbors say he has a wife and three grown children.

He was arrested Wednesday morning while school was in session and was being held on $1 million secured bond.

The arrest report says Smith's victim was a 17-year-old girl at Pinecrest High School.

The school system moved quickly to protect the alleged victim and other students.

In statement issued Wednesday afternoon, a Moore County schools spokesman said, "The safety and well-being of our students is always our first priority, and we purposely strive to ensure our employees are held to the highest moral and ethical standards. An occurrence such as this deeply affects both our school system and our community."

The school system planned to make counselors available at the high school and the middle school.