A highly-regarded former principal has appeared in court charged with the indecent assault of a 10-year-old girl in northern NSW.
Hilton Humphries, 56, was arrested on Tuesday after a year-long investigation and charged with two counts of aggravated indecent assault.
Police allege he assaulted the girl, now 11, in his office at Moree Secondary College in early 2013.
The girl was not a student of the school at the time.
In a statement, a Department of Education and Communities (DEC) spokesman said the body became aware of the allegations last year and immediately directed Mr Humphries to duties that did not involve contact with children.
Mr Humphries later took leave.
"Once legal proceedings have concluded, the DEC will consider further action, including the principal's future employment," the spokesman said.
Mr Humphries was one of 15 principals involved in the department's Connected Communities program which aims to address the educational aspirations of NSW's Aboriginal children.
Upon his appointment as Moree Secondary College's executive principal in 2012, Mr Humphries told the Moree Champion he had high expectations for students' "achievements in learning and the respect young people have".
"I'm going to Moree to create positive outcomes for every student in Moree Secondary College," he said.
Mr Humphries was granted bail at Armidale Court on Wednesday morning.
Students and staff at Moree Secondary College have been offered counselling and support services.
