DENVER -- A Brighton Charter High School student who said he was romantically involved with a teacher at the school told his story to a national television audience Tuesday morning.

Tommy Clay was interviewed by NBC "Today" show host Matt Lauer. He appeared with his parents and a lawyer and voluntarily allowed his name and image to be shown.

Clay is at the center of a scandal involving former teacher Carrie McCandless, the wife of the school's principal.

The 30-year-old McCandless is charged with sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She was also accused of contacting the teen in violation of a court order.

Clay has appeared at an earlier court hearing with McCandless.

The improper contact reportedly began during a school-sponsored field trip to Estes Park last October. Clay told police that he and McCandless "made out" on the floor of the cabin. He said that they simulated sex with their clothes on.

Clay explained that he and the teacher became friends because he could talk to her and relate to her.

"And then I guess when we got into it a little bit more, it got a little bit more intimate," he said.

Clay also told police that he and McCandless professed their love to each other. He said they once sent 76 text messages to each other in one day.

"A lot of my guy friends were showing a lot more respect. As we got further into it, I lost a lot of the friends I had at that school," he said.

When the relationship became known, Clay's parents said they were asked to take him out of the school by the principal. The principal did not report the contact to police and McCandless wasn't disciplined until later. She has since been fired but her husband remains the principal.

Clay told Lauer that he and McCandless talked about what would happen if anyone found out about their relationship and agreed that "it's over if it ever comes out."

Clay said he offered to take the blame for what had happened, saying he wanted to protect McCandless.

When another teacher discovered the relationship, "I told Mrs. McCandless that I would take the fall for it. I didn't want her ending up losing her job and I figured I had a lot less to lose than she did," Clay said.

Clay was 17 and McCandless was 29 at the time. She was a social studies teacher and cheerleading coach.

McCandless also faces charges of violating the conditions of her bond for allegedly contacting Clay after she was released on bail. She has denied that charge.

Her attorney, Michael Trent Trani, has said he is negotiating a possible plea agreement in the case. Trani did not immediately return a call Tuesday.

The allegations against McCandless came to light after a reporter contacted authorities about them.

The president of the charter school's board, David Mundy, faces charges of failing to report child-abuse allegations and tampering with a witness in connection with the case.