This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Cumberland, R.I. • Three teachers at a Rhode Island charter school have resigned for exchanging disparaging and profanity-laden chat messages about students.

Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy in Cumberland confirmed Wednesday that it had parted ways with the teachers, whose names were not disclosed.

Screenshots of the private chats were leaked and shared online by students.

The messages contained expletives, called students idiots and dumb, and in one, the writer expressed a desire to hit a student.

School Executive Director Jeremy Chiappetta wrote in an open letter that the comments were "deeply disturbing and offensive." He says the school is reviewing its policies to "prevent this very tragic thing from happening again."

The teachers who resigned were trained by Teach for America, and have been suspended by the program.