A married Mormon elementary school teacher had a sexual relationship with one of his 12-year-old students - and was only stopped when her classmates told other teachers, police have revealed. Kenne Worthen, 27, allegedly started flirting with the sixth grader at Longview Elementary School in Phoenix last August and the relationship turned sexual in January, Fox10 reported. The father-of-one allegedly kept in contact with the girl outside school by messaging her on an iPod app, Google Hangouts, where she labeled his profile with a fake name, 'Jesse Smith'. Some of the conversations were sexual in nature, according to police, while in another, the teacher told the student he was worried she would feel guilty and tell his wife or the police. Scroll down for video . Arrested: Kenne Worthen, pictured left in his mug shot and right in his teacher's headshot, was arrested on Friday after it emerged that he allegedly had a sexual relationship with one of his 12-year-old students . Earlier this year, he allegedly asked her mother if the girl could stay behind after class. On April 10, they had sexual contact at the school, the girl told police. 'He contacted my daughter's mother and said, "Can she stay after school and help with something?" and mom said, "Of course, why not?"' the girl's enraged father told Fox10. 'There should've been no reason why my child was in a classroom alone with a teacher.' The father, who has not been identified, called the alleged relationship 'sickening' but applauded his daughter's fellow students, who told another staff member last Friday that they thought Worthen and the student were having inappropriate contact. 'I honestly couldn't thank them enough for what they've done for my daughter in this case, because who knows how much longer this would have gone on had they not said anything,' he said. After the students told staff, they called the police, according to a statement from the school district. When asked about the relationship, the girl initially denied it but later admitted to it, according to KPHO. Family: 27-year-old Worthen is pictured with his wife Danielle and their two-year-old daughter . 'Fears': In messages to the girl, he allegedly expressed fears she would tell his wife about the relationship . 'Sick': He allegedly kept in contact with the girl outside of school by messaging her on an iPod app . Worthen, who has no criminal record, also allegedly admitted to having sexual contact with the girl after contacting her over the internet. He was arrested at the school on Friday afternoon and is facing charges of luring a minor for sexual exploitation, child molestation and sexual conduct with a minor. He has been denied bond. On Monday, Osborn School District Superintendent Patricia Tate sent a letter to parents about the incident. 'He has been put on administrative leave and will not be returning to Longview,' the letter read. 'If anyone has information or questions specific to this case, please contact the Phoenix Police Department at 602-262-6151. The safety of your children is and always will be our first priority.' Police said they do not believe there are other victims. Speaking to Fox10, the girl's father said he was overwhelmed with anger towards Worthen. 'You have this anger, the anger towards the perpetrator, and a feeling that you physically want to harm that person,' he said. 'Then there's an anger at least for me towards the school, because you send your child there thinking they're going to be safe.' In court: Following his arrest on Friday, the teacher appeared in court (pictured) but was denied bond . Scene: Worthen, who has worked at the school (pictured) for two years, allegedly had sexual contact with her there on April 10 after getting her mother's permission to let the girl stay late after school . Worthen has taught sixth grade at the school for nearly two years. He is also an International Pathway Adjunct Professor at Brigham Young University-Idaho, where he teaches life skills and English to international students, according to his Linkedin page. 'Mr. Worthen was employed by the university as an online adjunct instructor,' a university spokesperson told DailyMail.com. 'However, his employment was terminated as soon as the university was made aware of his arrest.' He has also previously held after-school teacher roles in Idaho and volunteered as a Boy Scuots supervisor, according to his Linkedin page. The profile also suggests he is a follower of the Church of Latter-Day Saints. His wife, Danielle, also lists herself as a Mormon online. They have a two-year-old daughter together. Hangouts is a Google app that allows users to share conversations, photos and video chats. See below for video .
Kenne Worthen was arrested on Friday after some of his students told staff 'he was having inappropriate contact with one of their classmates'
The married father of one 'started flirting with the girl last August and asked for her mother's permission for her to remain behind after school'
They 'kept in contact out of school by messaging on Google Hangouts'
The girl and Worthen 'both admitted to the relationship' and he now faces sexual exploitation and child molestation charges.