UPDATE: The Fayetteville Public Schools administrator charged with sexually assaulting young students has bonded out of jail around 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 28.

Dr. Mark Edward Oesterle submitted his resignation to Superintendent Dr. John L Colbert.

Fayetteville Public Schools released the following statement:

“Fayetteville Public Schools Superintendent of Schools Dr. John L Colbert has accepted the resignation of Mark Oesterle, former Executive Director of Secondary Education, effective today, March 28, 2019. Oesterle began his employment with the district in August of 2016, and the charges filed against him today are for alleged events that occurred prior to his employment with FPS and do not involve FPS students. The district will have no further comment on this matter.”

Springdale Public Schools released the following statement on Friday, March 29:

Springdale District Statement on Mark Oesterle
At no time during Mark Oesterle’s employment with the Springdale School District were any charges filed against him. The district did not learn of the allegations against Mr. Oesterle until he was no longer employed by Springdale Public Schools. We have cooperated fully with the investigation that ensued after the allegations were made. 

The arrest warrant for Oesterle states that in 2015 Oesterle sexually assaulted young teens who were students at a school he worked at.  These are Class B felonies that carry 5-20 years in the penitentiary and/or up to a $15,000 fine. 

Oesterle was previously an assistant principal at the Don Tyson School of Innovation in Springdale from 2015-2016. Before that, he was an assistant principal at Har-Ber High School from 2014-2015. 

ORIGINAL STORY

Fayetteville Public School Administrator Dr. Mark Edward Oesterle has been charged with three felonies for second-degree sexual assault, according to the arrest warrant dated Thursday, March 28. 

Oesterle was placed on paid administrative leave in early January, according to the school’s Public Information Officer Alan Wilbourn. 

The warrant states:

Count 1: Oesterle touched the breast of the alleged victim.

Count 2: Oesterle engaged in sexual contact with a minor on, or about, October 2015.  The alleged victim was 14 years old and a student at the school where he worked.

Count 3: Oesterle engaged in sexual contact with a minor on, or about, August or September 2015.  the alleged victim was 14 years old and a student at the school where he worked.

Oesterle was previously an assistant principal at the Don Tyson School of Innovation in Springdale from 2014-2016. Before that, he was an assistant principal at Har-Ber High School.