A man has been charged over a hit-and-run one week after a high school teacher was found dead one street away from his home in a Western Australian town.

The body of a 49-year-old man was discovered by a member of the public on Marri Drive in Katanning, about 277km south-east of Perth, at 5.35am on May 13.

The man has since been identified as Luke Russell by The West, a humanities and social sciences teacher at Katanning Senior High School.

WA Police confirmed on Wednesday that a 26-year-old man had been charged in relation to the death.

He faces one count of failing to stop and ensure assistance is received after an incident occasioning death.

He is also charged with one count of failing to report an incident occasioning death or grievous bodily harm, and one count of no authority to drive – suspended.

He is due to appear before Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Mr Russell joined the local school in 2020, served as a group coordinator for Years 7 to 10, and contributed to the school’s newsletter. 

Photos shared by the school in early 2023 show Mr Russell dressed in a bed sheet styled as a toga to teach a Year 7 class about democracy.

‘A vote was held as an example of direct democracy to vote out who was thought too powerful,’ the caption read.

‘Mr Russell was banished for 10 years!’

Locals told The West that the teacher had lived in the town for several years and was regularly seen walking his German Shepherd.

He is understood to have lived on Casuarina Drive, which is adjacent to Marri Drive.

Before joining Katanning Senior High School, Mr Russell did a stint at Pemberton District High School, located about 200km away.