GOOSE CREEK, S.C. -- An award-winning female middle school teacher accused of having sex with a teenage girl was in jail Wednesday on five sex-related charges, authorities said.

Kanesa Hopkins, 31, who was recently named the school's teacher of the year by her peers, is accused of having a sexual relationship with a former student several years ago, authorities said. The sexual assaults occurred at both Hopkins' and the alleged victim's residences, according to a sworn statement.

Hopkins also was the girl's Sunday school teacher, according to the sworn statement.

It was unclear if Hopkins had an attorney. She was being held Wednesday on $300,000 bail. A phone message left for her was not immediately returned and the public defender's office said they were not representing Hopkins.

Hopkins was charged with two counts each of committing a lewd act upon a child under 16 and second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor in Goose Creek. Hopkins also faces one count of criminal sexual conduct with a minor in nearby North Charleston, where she previously lived.

"The victim came forward in the past couple of weeks," said North Charleston Police Detective Jerry Jellico.

The relationship lasted for several years but was over when the alleged victim, who is graduating from high school this year, contacted authorities, Jellico said.

The alleged sex assaults began in 2003 when the student was between 14 and 15 years old, authorities said.

The relationship started with letters between the student and teacher and progressed to spending more time at Hopkins' house and physical contact, according to the affidavit.

Hopkins was confronted in 2002 about the amount of time she was spending with the girl by the church, which was not named in the affidavit. There was no other mention of the church in the sworn statement.

Hopkins is a seventh-grade math teacher who has taught at Westview Middle School for eight years, said Pam Bailey, a Berkeley County School District spokeswoman. Hopkins was on administrative leave with pay.