RALEIGH, N.C. — A Wake County tenth-grade English teacher has been suspended from teaching at Broughton High School, following allegations of sexual misconduct.

Betty Mackie, 46, was arrested Saturday. She is charged with engaging in a sexual act with a 13-year-old boy. Police said the off-campus incident took place two years ago when Mackie was teaching at Ligon Middle School.

"We don't get a lot of these. They come in from time to time," said Capt. D.S. Overman of the Raleigh Police Department.

Mackie waived her right to appear in court Monday morning. Her attorneys said this case is different than what it appears to be.

Parents and students at Broughton High said they could not believe the news about the teacher, who they said is well-liked and highly respected.

"It's the topic of everybody's conversation. Everybody is surprised something like that would happen," student Michael Johnson said.

"I had her for a class. She was a great teacher. She was real nice," student Parker Morris said. "I could go talk to her. I liked her a lot."

The parents of the student involved in the incident found out about the incident and made a complaint to the Wake County District Attorney's office, which then passed it on to the Raleigh Police Department.

Mackie has been with the Wake County school system since 1984. School administrators said Mackie has received a number of awards for her work. She does not have a criminal record.

Raleigh police said their next step is to see if any other students come forward with similar complaints.

Mackie will not be allowed to teach while the investigation is ongoing. Police said she has been cooperative in the investigation.