JACKMAN – The kindergarten teacher charged with possessing pornographic photographs of children has resigned from Forest Hills Consolidated School.

School Administrative District 12 board members accepted Rob P. Mocarsky’s resignation in a 6-1 vote during a special meeting Tuesday night. The resignation is effective Feb. 19.

Mocarsky, 41, was arrested Jan. 6 on felony charges of sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of sexually explicit materials, both involving children younger than 12.

He was charged with having hundreds of pornographic photos of children on his home computer after an investigation that began when a mother told school officials he had made a student dress in a French maid’s costume and photographed her.

No note or comment from Mocarsky accompanied the resignation, Superintendent John Davis said.

Mocarsky did not attend the school board meeting, and Davis said he has not spoken with Mocarsky recently.

The resignation was handled by Mocarsky’s attorney and the school district’s attorney.

Davis said he likely would have asked the board to terminate Mocarsky’s employment “if the investigation warranted it.”

Terminating a teacher, according to the contract, requires an internal investigation, a submission of charges, time for rebuttal of the charges, then a hearing.

“He is choosing not to go through the hearing process,” Davis said.

Robert Sandy Jr., Mocarsky’s attorney, said the resignation was a “mutually satisfactory agreement.”

“We thought that was in the best interest of both the district and Mr. Mocarsky,” he said. “I can’t speculate on what everyone’s motives were.”

Mocarsky did not return phone calls seeking comment. Sandy said he advised Mocarsky against talking about the case.

“Unfortunately, the most sensible thing is not to discuss things with anybody,” Sandy said.

The school board’s discussion about Mocarsky’s resignation was held in executive session because it was a personnel matter.

Mocarsky has been on administrative leave since Dec. 8, when internal and criminal investigations of his conduct began.

He was also the subject of a criminal investigation 13 years ago in Grantham, N.H. He was accused of photographing students at Grantham Village School undressing, says Russell Lary, who was Grantham’s police chief at the time.

Mocarsky was never charged in that case. The investigation’s prime evidence — camera film — got lost in the mail. Mocarsky left the school in 1998.

He entered the Peace Corps and did not teach for four years until he was hired in 2002 at Jackman’s school.

Resigning from a teaching position is a separate issue from revoking certification.

“Whether a teacher chooses to resign or is terminated is a local issue, and the certification is a state issue, and they are independent of one another,” Davis said.

Mocarsky is still certified to teach in Maine, said David Connerty-Marin, spokesman for the Maine Department of Education.

More information about the case is expected when an affidavit becomes public. Judge Peter Darvin sealed the Maine State Police affidavit on Jan. 7, saying he wanted to protect the investigation.

District Attorney Evert Fowle is reviewing the case with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Mocarsky’s next scheduled court appearance is March 9 in Superior Court in Skowhegan.

All Jackman-area students and parents have been told of Mocarsky’s arrest, and some adults have visited with counselors provided by the school.

“The students are resilient; they’re fine,” Davis said. “We’re not seeing any lingering or unacceptable behavior at this point in time.”