"It's kind of shocking. I'm really upset about it," said Irene Anderson.
"Other people who had him in other years said he was really weird, that he was too close to the kids and stuff," Danielle Anderson said.
The student's mother discovered the journal almost three weeks ago. Police won't show us any of the entries, but they called 35-year-old Edrich's comments to the boy "immoral, unhealthy and inappropriate."
"He was trying to groom this young boy to develop the relationship into a sexual nature," Det. Sgt. Anthony Repalone said.
Edrich surrendered to Nassau County authorities Thursday morning and was arraigned on child endangerment charges.
He has been suspended with pay from his teaching job and completely cut off from the district's website and email.
Edrich's landlord at his East Meadow home didn't want to comment, but he said he didn't believe the allegations. Other students also came to the popular teacher's defense.
"Everybody really likes him. He's a good teacher and he pushes the kids hard," Kerry Sallie said.
Police say there was no physical contact between Edrich and his student, but they suspect there are other victims out there who may also have received inappropriate messages.
Detectives ask anyone with information to contact Nassau County Police Detectives or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.
