A former secretary at the Oak Bluffs School was sentenced in Edgartown District Court to three years probation as part of a plea bargain on Friday. She admitted to embezzling more than $15,000 from a school account by forging the principal’s name on several checks and keeping the money.

The Hon. John Julian agreed to continue the case against Susan T. Peters, 60, of Oak Bluffs, for three years on the condition that she perform 100 hours of community service, pay related court fees and comply with the terms of her probation.

Under the terms of the agreement, Ms. Peters will not serve time in prison. The agreement also allowed Ms. Peters to avoid a felony conviction which, among other things, would have prevented her from drawing from her school pension fund.

Ms. Peters worked for the school for 24 years, first in the cafeteria and then as a secretary in the principal’s office.

According to police, assistant principal Carlin Hart first discovered that a school account had been overdrawn last August. Mr. Hart then got in touch with the Oak Bluffs police and handed over a number of unauthorized checks that had been forged with the signature of principal Laury Binney and made out either to cash or Ms. Peters.

The account from which the money was taken is under the control of the school principal and is funded mainly by donations. Among other things, the account is used to help students who cannot afford field trips.

Cape and Islands Assistant District Attorney Laura Marshard read a brief description of the charges on Friday and explained that if the case had gone to trial, the commonwealth would have presented evidence that Ms. Peters took school checks and wrote them out to herself. Ms. Peters then used her position to cover the missing money in the school bookkeeping records, Ms. Marshard said.

Ms. Marshard said the thefts took place over a period of more than a year starting in May of 2006.

Superintendent James H. Weiss read a brief victim impact statement which said Ms. Peters should admit to what she did.

“She did something that was totally unacceptable . . . when our children do something wrong we make them tell the truth and deal with the consequences . . . it’s important that [this incident] serve as a model for the children,” Mr. Weiss said.

Attorney Charles Morano, who represented Ms. Peters, said his client was sorry for her actions. He also said he had received a large amount of letters from people around the Island offering their support and testifying to the character of Ms. Peters.

“I know she is sorry and realizes she made some serious misjudgments . . . I think she is probably more mortified by all this than anyone,” Mr. Morano said.

In a letter to the editor published in today’s edition of the Gazette, Ms. Peters, who was well known and liked at the school, offered an apology to the teachers, students and staff.

“I offer no excuses and would like to say I am sorry for the hurt and disappointment I have caused my family and everyone involved with the school and the community. I wish I could turn back time and not have made this horrible decision that has affected so many,” she wrote, adding:

“I loved my job and looked forward to going to work every day and spending the day with your children, many of whom are my grandchildren and family. There are so many parents who used to be students at the school and I know how much you trusted me. I’m sorry I betrayed your trust . . . [I] hope to be able to hold my head high sometime again in the future.”

In the letter, Ms. Peters also thanked all the teachers, staff and friends for the support they have offered her since she was charged last September.

Before agreeing to the sentence, Judge Julian noted that Ms. Peters had no prior criminal record and that she had made complete restitution of the stolen money. But he agreed an example should be made.

“As a father of three young boys I try to teach there are consequences for their actions, and I do agree there needs to be some penalty. . . but her admitting to her role and restoring the money will go a long way,” the judge said.