HOUSTON -- A northwest Harris County junior high school teacher has been accused of having sex with a student, KPRC Local 2 reported Monday.

Harris County sheriff's officials said a deputy caught teacher Emily Willis with the 14-year-old male student near Greenhouse Road and West Little York Road at about 1:45 a.m. Saturday.

Both Willis and the student were in the back seat. Her blouse and bra were off and the boy was only wearing boxer shorts, according to the deputy.

Willis, 28, was charged with sexual assault of a child. She was released from the Harris County Jail on $10,000 bond. She made her first court appearance on Monday.

Investigators said Willis confessed to having sex with the boy.

Katy Independent School District officials said Willis was a first-year teacher in the district. She teaches eighth-grade mathematics at McDonald Junior High School.

School district officials have not said if the student was in one of Willis' classes. The child is a student at McDonald Junior High School, officials said.

Willis was described as a popular teacher.

"She's a very good teacher," parent Laura Fuqua said.

Willis' neighbors were surprised at the allegations.

"It's surprising when anybody does it, especially a teacher when they're in charge of children. It's scary," neighbor Kate Wigginton said.

Katy ISD officials placed Willis on administrative leave without pay pending final action by the Board of Trustees.

The principal of McDonald Junior High met with students and offered counseling for anyone who needed it.